13 Art & Design colleges in Virginia with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $63,466.
Top Art & Design graduates on this list earn over $86,863—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.
University Of Virginia-Main Campus leads the rankings, producing Art & Design graduates earning $86,863 while maintaining a 93rd percentile mobility score. Virginia Tech follows at $81,698 with an even stronger 95th percentile mobility ranking, proving that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes.
George Mason University exemplifies the double win: 30% Pell Grant recipients and 30% first-generation students, yet graduates still earn $76,343. With a 98th percentile mobility score and good affordability tier, it demonstrates that access and strong outcomes aren't mutually exclusive.
Earnings: $86,863 | Mobility: 93rd percentile
37% Pell students with $54,914 earnings
11% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
32% family burden | High burden - payment over 25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $86,863 | $17,500 | Excellent | $28,903 | Challenging | 93th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | $81,698 | $21,500 | Good | $35,325 | Manageable | 94th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $76,343 | $19,500 | Good | $25,142 | High | 98th percentile mobility |
| #4 | William & MaryPublic | $73,490 | — | — | — | — | 84th percentile mobility |
| #5 | James Madison UniversityPublic | $69,954 | $20,093 | Good | $37,285 | High | 93th percentile mobility |
| #6 | $60,613 | $20,500 | Manageable | $26,240 | High | 78th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | $60,509 | $25,000 | Good | $44,122 | High | 78th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | Randolph-Macon CollegePrivate | $58,448 | — | — | — | — | 77th percentile mobility |
| #9 | $58,128 | $21,500 | Challenging | $23,585 | High | 94th percentile mobility | |
| #10 | Old Dominion UniversityPublic | $54,914 | $24,000 | Challenging | $18,866 | High | 92th percentile mobility |
| #11 | Radford UniversityPublic | $53,739 | $24,000 | Manageable | $22,158 | High | 88th percentile mobility |
| #12 | $45,543 | — | — | — | — | 85th percentile mobility | |
| #13 | Liberty UniversityPrivate | $44,813 | $24,500 | Manageable | $16,398 | High | 99th 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 →
