The University of Salford has retained its position as the fifth best university in England for social mobility, according to the latest Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) Social Mobility Index.

The newly published results, which cover the 2025 period, assess how universities support students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, measuring factors such as access, continuation rates and graduate outcomes, as well as the “social distance” students travel after completing their studies.

The Index, produced by the Higher Education Policy Institute, evaluates undergraduate provision across all modes of study (excluding apprenticeships due to limitations in available data), combining multiple measures to build a picture of how effectively institutions promote upward mobility.

Salford has credited its continued performance to its long-standing commitment to widening participation and supporting students from a broad range of backgrounds. The university works in collaboration with schools and colleges across Greater Manchester to provide young people with impartial information, advice and guidance on routes into higher education.

Its partnerships with organisations and charities including IntoUniversity and The Tutor Trust are central to its outreach work, aiming to break down barriers to university and encourage a more diverse student population.

A university spokesperson said:

“We have remained in the same position as last year’s rankings – excellent news for the University, which is committed to empowering every student to achieve their academic and career ambitions, whatever their background.

The newly published results, which cover last year (2025), show the number of socio-economically disadvantaged graduates and the social distance they travel for each registered higher education institution in England. The Index combines access, continuation and outcomes measures for undergraduates for all modes of study (except apprenticeships due to limitations in the available data).

The University collaborates with schools and colleges across Greater Manchester to provide young people with impartial information, advice, and guidance on pathways into higher education and the university experience. Our partnerships with key organisations and charities are central to our commitment to widening access and participation. By breaking down perceived barriers to higher education, we strive to create a student body that reflects the diversity of society.

We work to inspire, engage, and enable students from under-represented backgrounds by raising awareness, challenging inequalities, and providing meaningful opportunities to explore university life.”

Vice-Chancellor Nic Beech said:

“Retaining our position as the fifth-best university in the country for social mobility is a great achievement and reflects our unwavering mission to innovate to enrich lives. As a university we have a long history of using outreach to unlock talent and enable those who may not have considered higher education to reach their full potential. Today, our partnerships with the likes of IntoUniversity and the Tutor Trust are central to that goal.

“Driving social mobility is fundamental to our purpose as an institution. To all our colleagues and students who embody this every day, thank you for making Salford a powerful force for equity and opportunity.”

Nick Hillman OBE, Director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, who publish the Index, also commented on the findings:

Nick Hillman said: “At a time when there is a lot of criticism of universities, it is important to be reminded of the critical work they do transforming lives. The Social Mobility Index is different to other rankings because it puts the focus wholly on students and their real-world outcomes.

The diversity of institutions in this year’s top ten suggests the Index measures something valuable that institutions of all types can do well at, if they choose to adopt a dedicated focus.”