88 Liberal Arts colleges in the South with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $54,025.
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #76 | Liberty UniversityPrivate | $44,813 | $24,500 | Manageable | $16,398 | High | 99th percentile mobility |
| #77 | Murray State UniversityPublic | $44,737 | $20,500 | Manageable | $18,465 | High | 75th percentile mobility |
| #78 | $44,440 | $27,000 | Manageable | $20,004 | High | 90th percentile mobility | |
| #79 | $44,301 | $20,547 | Good | $14,710 | Challenging | 78th percentile mobility | |
| #80 | $44,140 | $22,500 | Manageable | $14,301 | Challenging | 82th percentile mobility | |
| #81 | $44,030 | $20,500 | Manageable | $20,305 | High | 72th percentile mobility | |
| #82 | $43,889 | $22,095 | Manageable | $18,310 | Challenging | 78th percentile mobility | |
| #83 | $42,968 | — | — | — | — | 87th percentile mobility | |
| #84 | $42,617 | $20,500 | Manageable | $11,000 | Challenging | 81th percentile mobility | |
| #85 | Alabama A & M UniversityPublic | $40,628 | $31,000 | Challenging | $19,266 | High | 79th percentile mobility |
| #86 | $40,144 | $22,987 | Manageable | $8,791 | Challenging | 80th percentile mobility | |
| #87 | Jackson State UniversityPublic | $39,060 | $30,470 | Challenging | $15,000 | High | 78th percentile mobility |
| #88 | $38,924 | $29,000 | Manageable | $19,929 | High | 88th 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 →
