6 Liberal Arts colleges in Kentucky with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $49,594.
These 6 Liberal Arts 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.
University of Kentucky leads the rankings, producing Liberal Arts graduates earning $59,025 while maintaining a 92nd percentile mobility score. At the other end, graduates still earn $43,889—demonstrating that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes, not just access.
Eastern Kentucky University serves 39% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while producing graduates earning $45,795. The debt story varies: Northern Kentucky University delivers a manageable 14% payment burden, while others reach concerning levels above 25%—a meaningful difference for graduates managing loan payments.
Earnings: $59,025 | Mobility: 92nd percentile
38.6% Pell students with $45,795 earnings
13.8% payment burden | Manageable
24.0% family burden | Challenging
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of KentuckyPublic | $59,025 | $22,500 | High | $30,006 | High | 92th percentile mobility |
| #2 | University Of LouisvillePublic | $53,899 | $20,500 | Challenging | $20,717 | High | 86th percentile mobility |
| #3 | $50,220 | $23,000 | Manageable | $14,877 | Challenging | 72th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $45,795 | $22,500 | High | $14,685 | High | 81th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | Murray State UniversityPublic | $44,737 | $20,500 | Manageable | $18,465 | High | 76th percentile mobility |
| #6 | $43,889 | $22,095 | High | $18,310 | High | 79th 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 →
