9 Communication colleges in Tennessee with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $53,538.
Top Communication graduates on this list earn over $91,565—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.
Vanderbilt University leads the rankings, producing Communication graduates earning $91,565 while maintaining an 86th percentile mobility score. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville follows at $60,249 with an exceptional 96th percentile mobility rating, proving that accessibility and strong outcomes aren't mutually exclusive.
Tennessee State University serves 52% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $42,730. The best mobility schools deliver a double win: Vanderbilt exemplifies this with 86th percentile mobility and just a 5% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' affordability category.
Earnings: $91,565 | Mobility: 86th percentile
52% Pell students with $42,730 earnings
5% payment burden | Excellent
17% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $91,565 | — | — | — | — | 86th percentile mobility |
| #2 | $60,249 | $20,500 | Good | $30,610 | Challenging | 94th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | $51,151 | $19,500 | Good | $17,353 | Challenging | 74th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $48,541 | $20,000 | Good | $14,229 | Challenging | 90th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $48,501 | $15,650 | Good | $11,640 | Manageable | 88th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | University Of MemphisPublic | $48,458 | $23,300 | Good | $15,393 | Manageable | 88th percentile mobility |
| #7 | $44,859 | $19,442 | Manageable | $16,938 | High | 76th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | $44,301 | $20,547 | Manageable | $14,710 | Challenging | 78th percentile mobility | |
| #9 | $44,213 | $21,024 | Manageable | $13,218 | Challenging | 70th 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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
