11 Computer Science colleges in Tennessee with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $53,747.
Most rankings ignore accessibility. We flipped the model: first, filter for schools that actually enroll and graduate low-income students (60th percentile+ mobility). Then rank by earnings. These 11 Computer Science programs made the cut.
Vanderbilt University leads the rankings, producing Computer Science graduates earning $91,565 while maintaining an 86th percentile mobility score. The earnings range spans $42,730 to $91,565, proving that schools serving low-income students can deliver exceptional outcomes.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville exemplifies the double win: 96th percentile mobility with graduates facing just a 4.1% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Austin Peay State University serves 46% Pell Grant recipients while maintaining excellent affordability—access AND manageable debt.
Earnings: $91,565 | Mobility: 86th percentile
45.6% Pell students with $44,301 earnings
1.4% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
4.8% family burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $91,565 | $14,000 | Excellent | $30,844 | Excellent | 86th percentile mobility |
| #2 | Rhodes CollegePrivate | $66,651 | $21,761 | Excellent | $52,509 | High | 79th percentile mobility |
| #3 | $60,249 | $20,500 | Excellent | $30,610 | Good | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $51,151 | $19,500 | Excellent | $17,353 | Good | 85th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $48,541 | $20,000 | Excellent | $14,229 | Good | 91th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | $48,501 | $15,650 | Excellent | $11,640 | Excellent | 89th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | University Of MemphisPublic | $48,458 | $23,300 | Excellent | $15,393 | Manageable | 90th percentile mobility |
| #8 | $44,859 | $19,442 | Excellent | $16,938 | Good | 88th percentile mobility | |
| #9 | $44,301 | $20,547 | Excellent | $14,710 | Manageable | 81th percentile mobility | |
| #10 | $44,213 | $21,024 | Excellent | $13,218 | Good | 72th percentile mobility | |
| #11 | $42,730 | $27,000 | Good | $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 →
