6 Art & Design colleges in Kentucky with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $49,594.
We started with Art & Design programs scoring 60th percentile or above for mobility—schools that actually serve low-income students. Then we ranked by earnings. The result: 6 programs that prove accessibility and strong outcomes aren't mutually exclusive.
Art & Design outcomes peak at University Of Kentucky, where graduates earn $59,025 while the school maintains a 92nd percentile mobility score. Across Kentucky's mobility-focused programs, earnings range from $43,889 to $59,025—proving schools serving low-income students deliver competitive results.
The best mobility schools deliver a double win: they serve low-income students AND leave them with manageable debt. University Of Louisville exemplifies selective success—86th percentile for mobility with just a 15% payment burden, meaning graduates keep more of their earnings in this challenging field.
Earnings: $59,025 | Mobility: 92nd percentile
39% Pell students with $45,795 earnings
15% payment burden | Manageable
33% family burden | High burden
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of KentuckyPublic | $59,025 | $22,500 | High | $30,006 | High | 92th percentile mobility |
| #2 | University Of LouisvillePublic | $53,899 | $20,500 | Manageable | $20,717 | High | 86th percentile mobility |
| #3 | $50,220 | $23,000 | High | $14,877 | High | 72th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $45,795 | $22,500 | High | $14,685 | High | 81th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | Murray State UniversityPublic | $44,737 | $20,500 | High | $18,465 | High | 76th percentile mobility |
| #6 | $43,889 | $22,095 | High | $18,310 | High | 79th 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 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
