7 Criminal Justice colleges in Tennessee with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $46,322.
These 7 Criminal Justice programs in Tennessee aren't just accessible—they deliver results. Each school ranks in the 60th percentile or above for social mobility, meaning they actually enroll and graduate low-income students. Then we ranked them by graduate earnings, finding schools that are both accessible AND high-performing.
The University Of Tennessee-Chattanooga leads the rankings, producing Criminal Justice graduates earning $51,151 while maintaining an 85th percentile mobility score. Across this list, average graduate earnings reach $46,322—demonstrating that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes, not just access.
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: Austin Peay State University exemplifies this with an 81st percentile for mobility and just a 12% payment burden, meaning graduates keep more of their earnings.
Earnings: $51,151 | Mobility: 85th percentile
52% Pell students with $42,730 earnings
12.2% payment burden | Manageable - payment 12-18% of discretionary
22.2% family burden | Challenging - payment 18-25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $51,151 | $19,500 | Manageable | $17,353 | High | 85th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | $48,541 | $20,000 | Manageable | $14,229 | High | 91th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | University Of MemphisPublic | $48,458 | $23,300 | Manageable | $15,393 | High | 90th percentile mobility |
| #4 | $44,859 | $19,442 | Manageable | $16,938 | High | 88th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $44,301 | $20,547 | Manageable | $14,710 | Challenging | 81th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | $44,213 | $21,024 | Manageable | $13,218 | High | 72th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | $42,730 | $27,000 | Manageable | $18,771 | High | 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 →
