8 Engineering colleges in Tennessee with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $54,426.
Top Engineering graduates on this list earn over $91,565—and these schools actually serve the students who need them most. With mobility scores at the 60th percentile or above, these 8 programs deliver both access and results.
Vanderbilt University leads the rankings, producing Engineering graduates earning $91,565 while maintaining an 86th percentile mobility score. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville follows with $60,249 in median earnings and a remarkable 96th percentile mobility rating—proving accessibility doesn't compromise outcomes.
Tennessee State University serves 52% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $42,730. Across the list, all top programs maintain excellent affordability with payment burdens under 8% of discretionary income, meaning graduates keep most of their earnings.
Earnings: $91,565 | Mobility: 86th percentile
52% Pell students with $42,730 earnings
3.2% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
6.9% family burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $91,565 | $14,000 | Excellent | $30,844 | Good | 86th percentile mobility |
| #2 | $60,249 | $20,500 | Excellent | $30,610 | Manageable | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | $51,151 | $19,500 | Excellent | $17,353 | Good | 85th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $48,541 | $20,000 | Excellent | $14,229 | Good | 91th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $48,501 | $15,650 | Excellent | $11,640 | Excellent | 89th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | University Of MemphisPublic | $48,458 | $23,300 | Excellent | $15,393 | Good | 90th percentile mobility |
| #7 | $44,213 | $21,024 | Excellent | $13,218 | Good | 72th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | $42,730 | $27,000 | Good | $18,771 | Manageable | 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 →
