9 English colleges in Tennessee with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $56,031.
We started with English programs scoring 60th percentile or above for mobility—schools that actually serve low-income students. Then we ranked by earnings. The result: 12 programs that prove accessibility and strong outcomes aren't mutually exclusive.
English outcomes peak at Vanderbilt University, where graduates earn $91,565 while maintaining 86th percentile mobility. The earnings range spans $42,730 to $91,565, demonstrating that schools serving low-income students can deliver exceptional career outcomes.
Austin Peay State University serves 46% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $44,301. The best schools deliver both access and manageable debt: Vanderbilt leads with just a 6% payment burden, earning 'Excellent' affordability status.
Earnings: $91,565 | Mobility: 86th percentile
46% Pell students with $44,301 earnings
6% payment burden | Excellent
22% family burden | Challenging
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $91,565 | $14,000 | Excellent | $30,844 | Manageable | 86th percentile mobility |
| #2 | Rhodes CollegePrivate | $66,651 | $21,761 | Good | $52,509 | High | 78th percentile mobility |
| #3 | $60,249 | $20,500 | Good | $30,610 | High | 94th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $51,151 | $19,500 | Good | $17,353 | Challenging | 74th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $48,541 | $20,000 | Good | $14,229 | Challenging | 90th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | $48,501 | $15,650 | Manageable | $11,640 | Challenging | 88th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | University Of MemphisPublic | $48,458 | $23,300 | Manageable | $15,393 | High | 88th percentile mobility |
| #8 | $44,859 | $19,442 | Manageable | $16,938 | High | 76th percentile mobility | |
| #9 | $44,301 | $20,547 | Manageable | $14,710 | High | 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 →
