161 Biological Sciences colleges in the South with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $57,242.
Top Biological Sciences graduates on this list earn over $103,494—and these schools actually serve the students who need them most. With mobility scores at the 60th percentile or above, these 161 programs deliver both access and results.
Georgetown University leads the rankings, producing Biological Sciences graduates earning $103,494 while maintaining an 84th percentile mobility score. Georgia Institute Of Technology-Main Campus follows closely at $102,772 with an even stronger 92nd percentile mobility rating, proving that accessibility and excellence aren't mutually exclusive.
Johns Hopkins University serves 20% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $87,556. The best mobility schools deliver a double win: Vanderbilt University exemplifies this with 86th percentile mobility and just a 3.4% payment burden, meaning graduates keep more of their earnings.
Earnings: $103,494 | Mobility: 84th percentile
19.8% Pell students with $87,555 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 | Georgetown UniversityPrivate | $103,494 | $15,500 | Excellent | $33,944 | High | 84th percentile mobility |
| #2 | $102,772 | $21,672 | Good | $32,216 | High | 92th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | Duke UniversityPrivate | $97,800 | $13,000 | Excellent | $27,998 | Manageable | 84th percentile mobility |
| #4 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $91,565 | $14,000 | Excellent | $30,844 | Manageable | 86th percentile mobility |
| #5 | George Washington UniversityPrivate | $90,873 | $20,449 | Good | $30,881 | High | 79th percentile mobility |
| #6 | Rice UniversityPrivate | $89,718 | $11,000 | High | $35,338 | High | 78th percentile mobility |
| #7 | Johns Hopkins UniversityPrivate | $87,555 | $10,250 | Excellent | $29,048 | High | 87th percentile mobility |
| #8 | $86,863 | $17,500 | Good | $28,903 | Challenging | 93th percentile mobility | |
| #9 | $82,860 | $19,000 | Good | $35,200 | High | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #10 | Loyola University MarylandPrivate | $82,652 | $27,000 | Good | $50,344 | High | 73th percentile mobility |
| #11 | $81,698 | $21,500 | Manageable | $35,325 | High | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #12 | Emory UniversityPrivate | $80,137 | $18,250 | Good | $30,480 | High | 88th percentile mobility |
| #13 | $77,369 | $22,996 | Excellent | $36,278 | Challenging | 88th percentile mobility | |
| #14 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $76,343 | $19,500 | Good | $25,142 | Challenging | 98th percentile mobility |
| #15 | University Of MiamiPrivate | $75,328 | $17,500 | High | $37,267 | High | 78th percentile mobility |
| #16 | $75,121 | $20,500 | Good | $26,632 | Challenging | 100th percentile mobility | |
| #17 | William & MaryPublic | $73,490 | $18,500 | Excellent | $30,326 | Challenging | 85th percentile mobility |
| #18 | University Of DelawarePublic | $72,950 | $24,572 | High | $43,000 | High | 90th percentile mobility |
| #19 | $72,200 | $14,000 | Good | $25,072 | High | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #20 | $72,097 | $17,804 | Good | $32,258 | High | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #21 | $72,085 | $21,096 | Challenging | $33,899 | High | 78th percentile mobility | |
| #22 | University Of FloridaPublic | $71,588 | $15,000 | Good | $18,837 | Challenging | 97th percentile mobility |
| #23 | Clemson UniversityPublic | $71,513 | $21,500 | Good | $35,463 | High | 90th percentile mobility |
| #24 | $69,960 | $19,500 | Good | $26,987 | Challenging | 90th percentile mobility | |
| #25 | James Madison UniversityPublic | $69,954 | $20,093 | Manageable | $37,285 | High | 93th 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 →
