94 Criminal Justice colleges in the South with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $52,098.
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #26 | $56,343 | $15,531 | Excellent | $13,835 | Manageable | 90th percentile mobility | |
| #27 | West Virginia UniversityPublic | $55,939 | $22,500 | Excellent | $32,980 | Challenging | 78th percentile mobility |
| #28 | $55,747 | $21,030 | Good | $19,367 | Challenging | 75th percentile mobility | |
| #29 | $55,493 | $21,105 | Good | $21,004 | Challenging | 71th percentile mobility | |
| #30 | East Carolina UniversityPublic | $55,146 | $22,750 | Good | $19,710 | Challenging | 92th percentile mobility |
| #31 | $54,560 | $17,622 | Good | $18,946 | Challenging | 86th percentile mobility | |
| #32 | Bowie State UniversityPublic | $54,537 | $22,985 | Excellent | $23,158 | Manageable | 75th percentile mobility |
| #33 | $54,501 | $22,300 | Good | $20,498 | Challenging | 84th percentile mobility | |
| #34 | $54,211 | $21,983 | Good | $19,433 | Challenging | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #35 | University Of LouisvillePublic | $53,899 | $20,500 | Good | $20,717 | Manageable | 87th percentile mobility |
| #36 | Radford UniversityPublic | $53,739 | $24,000 | Good | $22,158 | Challenging | 88th percentile mobility |
| #37 | $53,551 | $18,750 | Good | $10,000 | Manageable | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #38 | $53,040 | $19,606 | Good | $17,125 | Manageable | 88th percentile mobility | |
| #39 | $51,865 | $23,000 | Good | $25,348 | High | 84th percentile mobility | |
| #40 | $51,836 | $20,231 | Good | $21,919 | Challenging | 91th percentile mobility | |
| #41 | $51,450 | $22,934 | Good | $14,224 | Challenging | 76th percentile mobility | |
| #42 | $51,151 | $19,500 | Good | $17,353 | Manageable | 74th percentile mobility | |
| #43 | $50,994 | $20,000 | Good | $29,387 | Challenging | 89th percentile mobility | |
| #44 | $50,923 | $18,000 | Good | $11,916 | Manageable | 97th percentile mobility | |
| #45 | $50,741 | $19,500 | Excellent | $12,719 | Manageable | 80th percentile mobility | |
| #46 | $50,296 | $20,500 | Good | $15,265 | Challenging | 91th percentile mobility | |
| #47 | Athens State UniversityPublic | $50,273 | $18,051 | Good | $12,896 | Manageable | 75th percentile mobility |
| #48 | $50,220 | $23,000 | Good | $14,877 | Manageable | 71th percentile mobility | |
| #49 | $50,135 | $17,750 | Excellent | $12,100 | Manageable | 85th percentile mobility | |
| #50 | Lamar UniversityPublic | $49,652 | $21,250 | Good | $11,359 | Manageable | 79th 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 →
