5 Family & Consumer Sciences colleges in Tennessee with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $49,273.
Top Family & Consumer Sciences graduates on this list earn over $60,249—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.
The University Of Tennessee-Knoxville leads the rankings, producing Family & Consumer Sciences graduates earning $60,249 while maintaining an impressive 96th percentile mobility score. Across Tennessee's mobility-focused programs, earnings average $48,182—proving schools that serve low-income students can deliver competitive outcomes.
Tennessee State University serves 52% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while producing graduates earning $42,730. The best mobility schools deliver a double win: Tennessee Technological University exemplifies this with 89th percentile mobility and just a 14% payment burden, meaning graduates keep more of their earnings.
Earnings: $60,249 | Mobility: 96th percentile
52% Pell students with $42,730 earnings
14% payment burden | Manageable - payment 12-18% of discretionary
25% family burden | High burden - payment over 25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $60,249 | $20,500 | Good | $30,610 | High | 94th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | $48,541 | $20,000 | Manageable | $14,229 | Manageable | 90th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | $48,501 | $15,650 | Manageable | $11,640 | Challenging | 88th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $44,859 | $19,442 | Manageable | $16,938 | High | 76th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $44,213 | $21,024 | Manageable | $13,218 | High | 70th 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 →
