7 Art & Design colleges in Alabama with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $55,102.
Top Art & Design graduates on this list earn over $65,337—and these schools actually serve the students who need them most. With mobility scores at the 60th percentile or above, these 6 programs deliver both access and results.
Auburn University leads the rankings, producing Art & Design graduates earning $65,337 while maintaining an 89th percentile mobility score. The University of Alabama follows at $59,221 with an even stronger 92nd percentile mobility ranking, proving schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes.
Jacksonville State University exemplifies the mobility mission, serving 43% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while producing graduates earning $45,235. With a manageable 12-18% payment burden category, it delivers both access and affordability compared to higher-burden alternatives in the state.
Earnings: $65,337 | Mobility: 89th percentile
43% Pell students with $45,235 earnings
18.4% payment burden | High burden - payment over 25% of discretionary
43.3% family burden | High burden - payment over 25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Auburn UniversityPublic | $65,337 | $21,000 | Good | $43,605 | High | 89th percentile mobility |
| #2 | $61,767 | $20,705 | Manageable | $20,297 | High | 72th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | $59,221 | $22,750 | Good | $48,666 | High | 91th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $54,501 | $22,300 | Manageable | $20,498 | High | 84th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | Athens State UniversityPublic | $50,273 | $18,051 | Manageable | $12,896 | High | 75th percentile mobility |
| #6 | $49,379 | $24,929 | High | $26,683 | High | 84th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | $45,235 | $22,189 | Manageable | $13,672 | High | 84th 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 →
