7 Education colleges in South Carolina with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $56,190.
Top Education graduates on this list earn over $71,513—and these schools actually serve the students who need them most. With mobility scores at the 60th percentile or above, these 7 programs deliver both access and results.
At $71,513 in median earnings, Clemson University tops this list of mobility-focused programs while maintaining a 90th percentile mobility score. University of South Carolina-Columbia follows at $62,177, ranking 94th percentile for mobility—proving schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes.
University Of South Carolina-Upstate serves 46% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $48,587. The best mobility schools deliver a double win: Clemson University achieves 90th percentile mobility with just a 17% payment burden, meaning graduates keep more of their earnings.
Earnings: $71,513 | Mobility: 90th percentile
46% Pell students with $48,587 earnings
17% payment burden | Manageable
48% family burden | High burden
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Clemson UniversityPublic | $71,513 | $21,500 | Manageable | $35,463 | High | 90th percentile mobility |
| #2 | $62,177 | $21,500 | Challenging | $31,393 | High | 94th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | Presbyterian CollegePrivate | $60,194 | $26,000 | High | $26,491 | High | 77th percentile mobility |
| #4 | College Of CharlestonPublic | $56,416 | $23,250 | Manageable | $35,971 | High | 77th percentile mobility |
| #5 | $48,587 | $22,310 | High | $14,836 | High | 80th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | $47,258 | $23,750 | Challenging | $35,414 | High | 85th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | Winthrop UniversityPublic | $47,185 | $26,975 | High | $23,888 | High | 76th 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 →
