12 Accounting colleges in North Carolina with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $49,248.
Top Accounting graduates on this list earn over $68,758—and these schools actually serve the students who need them most. With mobility scores at the 60th percentile or above, these 12 programs deliver both access and results.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh leads the rankings, producing Accounting graduates earning $68,758 while maintaining a 95th percentile mobility score. University of North Carolina At Charlotte follows at $57,289 with an even higher 96th percentile mobility ranking—proving schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes.
The best mobility schools deliver a double win: they serve low-income students AND leave them with manageable debt. North Carolina State University At Raleigh exemplifies this—95th percentile for mobility with just a 5.7% payment burden, meaning graduates keep more of their earnings in the 'Excellent' affordability category.
Earnings: $68,758 | Mobility: 95th percentile
61.5% Pell students with $45,344 earnings
5.7% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
13.2% family burden | Manageable - payment 12-18% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $68,758 | $20,121 | Excellent | $23,000 | Good | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | $57,289 | $21,500 | Excellent | $19,809 | Manageable | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | East Carolina UniversityPublic | $55,146 | $22,750 | Excellent | $19,710 | Manageable | 92th percentile mobility |
| #4 | $51,836 | $20,231 | Excellent | $21,919 | Good | 91th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $49,458 | $21,868 | Good | $18,241 | Manageable | 86th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | $48,160 | $22,858 | Good | $14,638 | Manageable | 92th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | $45,344 | $25,000 | Excellent | $12,030 | Good | 84th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | $44,440 | $27,000 | Good | $20,004 | Manageable | 90th percentile mobility | |
| #9 | $44,030 | $20,500 | Good | $20,305 | Manageable | 72th percentile mobility | |
| #10 | $43,407 | $25,000 | Good | $10,984 | Manageable | 76th percentile mobility | |
| #11 | $42,968 | $28,250 | Excellent | $19,245 | Manageable | 87th percentile mobility | |
| #12 | $40,144 | $22,987 | Manageable | $8,791 | Manageable | 80th percentile mobility |
Our social mobility rankings answer: "Which schools deliver the best outcomes for students from low-income backgrounds?"
This is not simply "which schools admit the most low-income students" — it's which schools both serve low-income students and deliver strong earnings outcomes.
Data based on May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
