10 Business colleges in Tennessee with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $49,965.
Top Business graduates on this list earn over $66,651—and these schools actually serve the students who need them most. With mobility scores at the 60th percentile or above, these 10 programs deliver both access and results.
At $66,651 in median earnings, Rhodes College tops this list of mobility-focused programs while maintaining 79th percentile mobility. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville follows at $60,249 with an impressive 96th percentile mobility score—proving strong outcomes don't require sacrificing accessibility.
Tennessee State University serves 52% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while producing graduates earning $42,730. The best mobility schools deliver a double win: University of Tennessee-Knoxville achieves 96th percentile mobility with just a 7% payment burden, meaning graduates keep more of their earnings.
Earnings: $66,651 | Mobility: 79th percentile
52% Pell students with $42,730 earnings
5.9% payment burden | Excellent
14.9% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Rhodes CollegePrivate | $66,651 | $21,761 | Excellent | $52,509 | Challenging | 79th percentile mobility |
| #2 | $60,249 | $20,500 | Excellent | $30,610 | Manageable | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | $51,151 | $19,500 | Good | $17,353 | Challenging | 85th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $48,541 | $20,000 | Excellent | $14,229 | Manageable | 91th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $48,501 | $15,650 | Excellent | $11,640 | Manageable | 89th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | University Of MemphisPublic | $48,458 | $23,300 | Good | $15,393 | Manageable | 90th percentile mobility |
| #7 | $44,859 | $19,442 | Good | $16,938 | Manageable | 88th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | $44,301 | $20,547 | Challenging | $14,710 | High | 81th percentile mobility | |
| #9 | $44,213 | $21,024 | Good | $13,218 | Manageable | 72th percentile mobility | |
| #10 | $42,730 | $27,000 | Manageable | $18,771 | Challenging | 82th 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 →
