6 Engineering colleges in Alabama with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $55,139.
Top Engineering graduates on this list earn over $65,337—and these schools actually serve the students who need them most. With mobility scores at the 60th percentile or above, these 6 programs deliver both access and results.
Auburn University leads the rankings, producing Engineering graduates earning $65,337 while maintaining an 89th percentile mobility score. The University of Alabama in Huntsville follows at $61,767 with 73rd percentile mobility, proving that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes, not just access.
Alabama A & M University serves 64% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $40,628. Across the top performers, debt burdens remain manageable: Auburn University graduates face just a 4.9% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category for affordability.
Earnings: $65,337 | Mobility: 89th percentile
64% Pell students with $40,628 earnings
4.9% payment burden | Excellent
11.8% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Auburn UniversityPublic | $65,337 | $21,000 | Excellent | $43,605 | Manageable | 89th percentile mobility |
| #2 | $61,767 | $20,705 | Excellent | $20,297 | Manageable | 73th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | $59,221 | $22,750 | Excellent | $48,666 | Manageable | 92th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $54,501 | $22,300 | Excellent | $20,498 | Good | 86th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $49,379 | $24,929 | Excellent | $26,683 | Manageable | 84th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | Alabama A & M UniversityPublic | $40,628 | $31,000 | Good | $19,266 | Manageable | 81th 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 →
