28 Computer Science colleges in Texas with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $57,512.
We started with Computer Science programs scoring 60th percentile or above for mobility—schools that actually serve low-income students. Then we ranked by earnings. The result: 28 programs that prove accessibility and strong outcomes aren't mutually exclusive.
At $89,718 in median earnings, Rice University tops this list of mobility-focused programs while maintaining a 78th percentile mobility score. The University of Texas at Austin follows with $75,121 earnings and 100th percentile mobility, while Texas A&M College Station rounds out the top three at $72,097.
University of Houston-Clear Lake serves 44% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $59,004. The best mobility schools deliver a double win: Rice University achieves 78th percentile mobility with just a 1% payment burden, meaning graduates keep nearly all their earnings.
Earnings: $89,718 | Mobility: 78th percentile
43.8% Pell students with $59,004 earnings
1.0% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
4.7% family burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Rice UniversityPrivate | $89,718 | $11,000 | Excellent | $35,338 | Excellent | 77th percentile mobility |
| #2 | $75,121 | $20,500 | Excellent | $26,632 | Excellent | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | $72,097 | $17,804 | Excellent | $32,258 | Good | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | Texas Christian UniversityPrivate | $68,424 | $21,500 | Excellent | $54,925 | Good | 76th percentile mobility |
| #5 | $68,227 | $18,000 | Excellent | $21,495 | Excellent | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | $63,199 | $17,527 | Excellent | $12,313 | Excellent | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | Texas Tech UniversityPublic | $62,454 | $21,500 | Excellent | $23,443 | Excellent | 97th percentile mobility |
| #8 | University Of HoustonPublic | $62,377 | $18,194 | Excellent | $18,072 | Excellent | 100th percentile mobility |
| #9 | $59,004 | $17,831 | Excellent | $14,731 | Good | 91th percentile mobility | |
| #10 | $57,131 | $20,500 | Excellent | $13,859 | Excellent | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #11 | $57,053 | $17,137 | Excellent | $15,463 | Good | 87th percentile mobility | |
| #12 | $57,010 | $19,250 | Excellent | $23,211 | Manageable | 98th percentile mobility | |
| #13 | Texas State UniversityPublic | $56,906 | $21,000 | Excellent | $22,500 | Good | 99th percentile mobility |
| #14 | Texas Woman's UniversityPublic | $56,544 | $19,218 | Excellent | $13,471 | Good | 92th percentile mobility |
| #15 | $55,747 | — | — | — | — | 75th percentile mobility | |
| #16 | $54,211 | $21,983 | Excellent | $19,433 | Good | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #17 | $53,551 | $18,750 | Excellent | $10,000 | Good | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #18 | $53,040 | $19,606 | Excellent | $17,125 | Excellent | 88th percentile mobility | |
| #19 | $51,865 | $23,000 | Excellent | $25,348 | Good | 84th percentile mobility | |
| #20 | $51,450 | — | — | — | — | 76th percentile mobility | |
| #21 | $50,923 | $18,000 | Excellent | $11,916 | Excellent | 97th percentile mobility | |
| #22 | $50,741 | — | — | — | — | 80th percentile mobility | |
| #23 | $50,296 | $20,500 | Excellent | $15,265 | Excellent | 91th percentile mobility | |
| #24 | Lamar UniversityPublic | $49,652 | $21,250 | Excellent | $11,359 | Excellent | 79th percentile mobility |
| #25 | $49,634 | $23,409 | Excellent | $18,080 | Good | 90th 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 →
