6 Communication colleges in South Carolina with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $55,523.
We started with Communication programs scoring 60th percentile or above for mobility—schools that actually serve low-income students. Then we ranked by earnings. The result: 6 programs that prove accessibility and strong outcomes aren't mutually exclusive.
Clemson University leads the rankings, producing Communication graduates earning $71,513 while maintaining a 90th percentile mobility score. University of South Carolina-Columbia follows at $62,177 with an even higher 94th percentile mobility ranking, proving schools can deliver both access and results.
University of South Carolina-Upstate serves 46% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $48,587. The best mobility schools also manage debt well: College of Charleston graduates face just an 11% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' affordability category.
Earnings: $71,513 | Mobility: 90th percentile
45.5% Pell students with $48,587 earnings
11.5% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
32.0% family burden | High burden - payment over 25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Clemson UniversityPublic | $71,513 | $21,500 | Manageable | $35,463 | High | 90th percentile mobility |
| #2 | $62,177 | $21,500 | Manageable | $31,393 | High | 94th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | College Of CharlestonPublic | $56,416 | $23,250 | Good | $35,971 | High | 77th percentile mobility |
| #4 | $48,587 | $22,310 | High | $14,836 | High | 80th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $47,258 | $23,750 | Manageable | $35,414 | High | 85th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | Winthrop UniversityPublic | $47,185 | $26,975 | Manageable | $23,888 | High | 76th 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 →
