13 Business colleges in Virginia with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $63,466.
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: 13 programs that prove accessibility and strong outcomes aren't mutually exclusive in Virginia.
University of Virginia-Main Campus leads the rankings, producing Business graduates earning $86,863 while maintaining a 93rd percentile mobility score. Virginia Tech follows at $81,698 with an even stronger 95th percentile mobility rating, proving these schools compete on outcomes while serving diverse student populations.
George Mason University exemplifies the accessibility story—serving 30% Pell Grant recipients and 30% first-generation students while graduates still earn $76,343. With just a 6% payment burden, it lands in the 'Excellent' affordability category. These schools deliver both access AND manageable debt.
Earnings: $86,863 | Mobility: 93rd percentile
37% Pell students with $54,914 earnings
3.4% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
9.8% family burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $86,863 | $17,500 | Excellent | $28,903 | Good | 93th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | $81,698 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,325 | Manageable | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $76,343 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,142 | Good | 98th percentile mobility |
| #4 | William & MaryPublic | $73,490 | $18,500 | Excellent | $30,326 | Good | 85th percentile mobility |
| #5 | James Madison UniversityPublic | $69,954 | $20,093 | Excellent | $37,285 | Manageable | 93th percentile mobility |
| #6 | $60,613 | $20,500 | Excellent | $26,240 | Manageable | 79th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | $60,509 | $25,000 | Good | $44,122 | Challenging | 79th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | Randolph-Macon CollegePrivate | $58,448 | $27,000 | Manageable | $46,254 | High | 78th percentile mobility |
| #9 | $58,128 | $21,500 | Excellent | $23,585 | Manageable | 94th percentile mobility | |
| #10 | Old Dominion UniversityPublic | $54,914 | $24,000 | Good | $18,866 | Manageable | 93th percentile mobility |
| #11 | Radford UniversityPublic | $53,739 | $24,000 | Excellent | $22,158 | Manageable | 87th percentile mobility |
| #12 | $45,543 | $26,500 | Challenging | $22,181 | High | 84th percentile mobility | |
| #13 | Liberty UniversityPrivate | $44,813 | $24,500 | Good | $16,398 | Good | 98th 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 →
