11 Biological Sciences colleges in Tennessee with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $55,764.
We started with Biological Sciences programs scoring 60th percentile or above for mobility—schools that actually serve low-income students. Then we ranked by earnings. The result: 12 programs that prove accessibility and strong outcomes aren't mutually exclusive.
At $91,565 in median earnings, Vanderbilt University tops this list of mobility-focused programs with an 86th percentile mobility score. Rhodes College follows at $66,651, while The University Of The South rounds out the top three at $64,911—all maintaining mobility scores above the 79th percentile.
The best mobility schools deliver a double win: they serve low-income students AND leave them with manageable debt. Vanderbilt University exemplifies this—86th percentile for mobility with just a 3.4% payment burden, meaning graduates keep more of their earnings.
Earnings: $91,565 | Mobility: 86th percentile
45.6% Pell students with $44,301 earnings
3.4% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
12.1% family burden | Manageable - payment 12-18% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $91,565 | $14,000 | Excellent | $30,844 | Challenging | 86th percentile mobility |
| #2 | Rhodes CollegePrivate | $66,651 | $21,761 | Good | $52,509 | High | 78th percentile mobility |
| #3 | The University Of The SouthPrivate | $64,911 | $22,855 | Manageable | $56,450 | High | 81th percentile mobility |
| #4 | $60,249 | $20,500 | Excellent | $30,610 | Challenging | 94th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $51,151 | $19,500 | Good | $17,353 | Challenging | 74th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | $48,541 | $20,000 | Good | $14,229 | Challenging | 90th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | $48,501 | $15,650 | Good | $11,640 | Manageable | 88th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | University Of MemphisPublic | $48,458 | $23,300 | Good | $15,393 | Challenging | 88th percentile mobility |
| #9 | $44,859 | $19,442 | Excellent | $16,938 | Manageable | 76th percentile mobility | |
| #10 | $44,301 | $20,547 | Good | $14,710 | Challenging | 78th percentile mobility | |
| #11 | $44,213 | $21,024 | Excellent | $13,218 | Manageable | 70th 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 →
