Vaughn was recognized as having the highest upward mobility rate among 2,137 colleges in a January 18, 2017 article published in "The New York Times". Vaughn College was noted as "an institution doing more to impact social mobility for those who start from less fortunate means" and listed as the top institution for moving students from the bottom 40 percent to the top 40 percent in income. The article stems from a study conducted by The Equality of Opportunity Project titled "Mobility Report Cards: The Role of Colleges in Intergenerational Mobility."