So, What Exactly Do We Mean by ‘Social Mobility?’

When we talk about college being an experience that truly transforms lives, social mobility is what we’re talking about. Social mobility is the idea that one’s future shouldn’t be defined by their past – that education can and will open doors to careers, community impact, and financial stability that once felt out of reach.

This is what we aim to do every day at George Fox University: ensure each student has more choices, more stability, and more access to the kind of future they want – the kind of future they deserve.

Who Are Pell-eligible Students at Fox?

Pell-eligible students are those undergraduates who receive a Federal Pell Grant, a form of financial aid from the U.S. government designed to help students from low-income households pay for college. Some are first-generation students stepping onto a college campus without a family playbook for how to “do college,” but not always. Others come to Fox as second- or third-generation Bruins who have dreamt of joining the community for years. Still others are transfers from a community college, served in the military, are resuming school after taking time away, or are working to support a family.

Like all college students, they are navigating the cost of college – some with financial challenges that are more immediate and persistent. What unites Pell-eligible students isn’t a single story of need. It’s a shared story of potential.

What Does Social Mobility Look Like After Fox?

We see students graduate to become engineers designing medical equipment, nurses caring in high-intensity clinical settings, accountants supporting their local communities, and teachers leading classrooms where they now model what’s possible.

Many graduate after completing some form of experiential learning (internships, fieldwork, leadership roles, etc.) and are stepping directly into careers aligned with their goals. Some become the first in their family with a bachelor’s degree, raising the bar for the next generation in their home.

At George Fox, our aim isn’t making sure they complete “the thing”; it’s challenging them to explore why they are here, who they are becoming, and how their gifts will shape their communities. In a lot of ways, it’s not just about developing social mobility. That’s merely the byproduct of empowering them to cultivate a legacy of impact that transforms their communities in real and tangible ways.

How Does George Fox Foster that Kind of Transformation?

Our approach is personal and relational – intentionally so.

1. Be Known isn’t a slogan. At George Fox, students are seen, known and supported by name in all facets of their experience. Empowering students to see a future that is greater than their present reality requires authentic relationships, inside and outside of the classroom.

2. Personalized advising and strengths-based career coaching help students understand who they are, what they’re good at, and where they want to go. We employ a holistic support model with both professional career and academic coaching as well as faculty advising. This unique approach creates a dynamic web of support that pushes students to see/pursue excellence throughout their experience.

3. Experiential learning is vital. From internships and practicums to research and student leadership, students graduate with evidence of competence and not just potential. Skills are practiced, refined and carried confidently into career and calling.

Why Are We Ranked So Highly for Social Mobility?

In 2025, U.S. News & World Report again recognized George Fox with a spot on its “Top Performers on Social Mobility” list, ranking the institution No. 1 in the category among Christian colleges in the Pacific Northwest. The rating represents the university’s success at enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students who receive Pell Grants – the majority of which are awarded to students whose adjusted gross family incomes are under $50,000 annually, and in many cases, below $20,000.

Why are we so good at this? Simple – because we measure success by student success. It’s not enough to recruit talented students. We’re committed to graduating them and to preparing them for lives where purpose and professional opportunity intertwine. Our students show grit and our programs are built on a promise of excellence.

Beyond that, our community shows up and is intentionally present. When rankings recognize George Fox for social mobility, what they’re really recognizing is that we are doing what we say we will do – knowing students academically, socially and spiritually, with the aim of helping them launch well.

What I’m Most Proud of

So, what really excites me about this work? The small victories. It’s the small victories that matter the most to me. The moment that it just “clicks” for a student … the excitement they feel when they find something that really matters … the pride when they crush the test they didn’t think they would pass … the student who doubted they belonged who finds themself in a position of leadership … the first-generation grad who sent a photo wearing their nursing pin and said, “I did it – for my family”… the quiet sophomore who became a confident senior because someone invited them into opportunity.

These are the moments where social mobility becomes visible. Tangible. Holy. It’s the small moments that make the BIG moments special.

The Work Continues

The unfortunate reality is that the world doesn’t hand opportunity out evenly. Every day, students walk onto our campus with dreams big enough to change their futures – and often, their families’ futures too. Our responsibility as faculty and staff is to meet that courage with guidance, resources and a community that believes in them. That’s why I’m proud to work at George Fox. And that’s why social mobility isn’t just a ranking we’re good at – it’s who we are.