6 Engineering Technology colleges in Tennessee with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $47,635.
These 7 Engineering Technology programs 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 Engineering Technology graduates earning $51,151 while maintaining an 85th percentile mobility score. Across this list, average graduate earnings reach $46,934—demonstrating that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes, not just access.
The best mobility schools deliver a double win: they serve low-income students AND leave them with manageable debt. Tennessee Technological University exemplifies this—89th percentile for mobility with just a 4.4% payment burden, meaning graduates keep more of their earnings in the 'Excellent' affordability category.
Earnings: $51,151 | Mobility: 85th percentile
51.8% Pell students with $42,730 earnings
4.4% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
8.1% family burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $51,151 | $19,500 | Excellent | $17,353 | Excellent | 74th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | $48,541 | $20,000 | Excellent | $14,229 | Good | 90th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | $48,501 | $15,650 | Excellent | $11,640 | Excellent | 88th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | University Of MemphisPublic | $48,458 | $23,300 | Excellent | $15,393 | Good | 88th percentile mobility |
| #5 | $44,859 | $19,442 | Excellent | $16,938 | Good | 76th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | $44,301 | $20,547 | Excellent | $14,710 | Good | 78th 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 →
