SFSU named a national leader in helping students move up in life
The Wall Street Journal recognizes SFSU as one of the top 25 schools in the nation for social mobility
- By Strategic Marketing and Communications
For the second year in a row, The Wall Street Journal has put San Francisco State University on its list of the top 25 universities in the country for social mobility — basically, how well schools help their students create better futures for themselves and their families. It’s recognition of something SF State has always been about: opening doors and creating opportunity.
The ranking is part of the annual Wall Street Journal/College Pulse “Best Colleges in America” list, which looks at nearly 600 schools nationwide. SFSU has landed in the top 25 for social mobility two years running, showing the lasting impact of an SFSU degree.
So what exactly is “social mobility”? In higher ed, it’s the measure of how well a college helps students — especially those from families without much financial security — move into higher-paying careers and improve their economic situation. At SFSU, that idea is more than a statistic. It’s a mission rooted in access, equity and student success.
You can see it in the numbers: 32% of SF State students are the first in their families to go to college, and 58% receive financial aid. For many, getting a degree here is not just a milestone — it’s a life-changer.
“SFSU was founded on the principle that higher education should change lives,” said SFSU President Lynn Mahoney. “Social mobility isn’t just a ranking for us — it’s the very heart of what we do. We help students gain the skills and confidence to transform their lives, their families’ futures and the communities they go on to serve.”
One alum who demonstrates that is Jessie Peterson (B.A., ’14). Peterson entered SFSU as a former foster youth and joined the Guardian Scholars program, which gave her housing, scholarships, mentoring and, as she puts it, “a family.” Today she’s an appellate criminal defense attorney at the Office of the State Public Defender, fighting for dignity and fairness in the justice system.
“I knew that if I went to SFSU, I’d be supported,” Peterson said. “I just didn’t know how much!”
Peterson’s story (told in the latest issue of SF State Magazine) is just one example of how students’ futures get brighter at SFSU — and why the University continues to be recognized as a national leader in social mobility.