7 Business colleges in Kentucky with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $50,324.
We started with Business programs scoring 60th percentile or above for mobility—schools that actually serve low-income students. Then we ranked by earnings. The result: 7 programs that prove accessibility and strong outcomes aren't mutually exclusive.
University of Kentucky leads the rankings, producing Business graduates earning $59,025 while maintaining a 92nd percentile mobility score. Even at #3, University of Louisville graduates earn $53,899—demonstrating that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes, not just access.
University of Louisville serves 29% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $53,899. Even better: graduates face just a 10% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. These schools deliver both access AND affordability.
Earnings: $59,025 | Mobility: 92nd percentile
39% Pell students with $45,795 earnings
8.6% payment burden | Good
14.9% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of KentuckyPublic | $59,025 | $22,500 | Excellent | $30,006 | Challenging | 92th percentile mobility |
| #2 | Transylvania UniversityPrivate | $54,705 | $27,000 | Good | $53,813 | High | 78th percentile mobility |
| #3 | University Of LouisvillePublic | $53,899 | $20,500 | Excellent | $20,717 | Manageable | 86th percentile mobility |
| #4 | $50,220 | $23,000 | Good | $14,877 | Manageable | 72th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $45,795 | $22,500 | Good | $14,685 | Challenging | 81th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | Murray State UniversityPublic | $44,737 | $20,500 | Manageable | $18,465 | Challenging | 76th percentile mobility |
| #7 | $43,889 | $22,095 | Good | $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 →
