70 Natural Resources colleges in the South with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $60,266.
Top Natural Resources graduates on this list earn over $97,800—and these schools actually serve the students who need them most. With mobility scores at the 60th percentile or above, these 68 programs deliver both access and results.
Duke University leads the rankings, producing Natural Resources graduates earning $97,800 while maintaining an 84th percentile mobility score. At $90,873, George Washington University follows closely, demonstrating that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes across the South.
George Mason University serves 30% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $76,343. Duke University exemplifies the double win: 84th percentile for mobility with just a 5.2% payment burden, meaning graduates keep most of their earnings while loans remain easily affordable.
Earnings: $97,800 | Mobility: 84th percentile
29.5% Pell students with $76,343 earnings
5.2% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
18.1% family burden | Challenging - payment 18-25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Duke UniversityPrivate | $97,800 | $13,000 | Excellent | $27,998 | Manageable | 84th percentile mobility |
| #2 | George Washington UniversityPrivate | $90,873 | $20,449 | Excellent | $30,881 | Manageable | 80th percentile mobility |
| #3 | $86,863 | $17,500 | Excellent | $28,903 | Challenging | 93th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $82,860 | $19,000 | Excellent | $35,200 | Challenging | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $81,698 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,325 | Challenging | 94th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | Emory UniversityPrivate | $80,137 | $18,250 | Excellent | $30,480 | Manageable | 87th percentile mobility |
| #7 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $76,343 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,142 | Manageable | 98th percentile mobility |
| #8 | University Of MiamiPrivate | $75,328 | — | — | — | — | 76th percentile mobility |
| #9 | University Of DelawarePublic | $72,950 | $24,572 | Manageable | $43,000 | High | 89th percentile mobility |
| #10 | $72,200 | $14,000 | Excellent | $25,072 | Manageable | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #11 | $72,097 | $17,804 | Excellent | $32,258 | Challenging | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #12 | University Of FloridaPublic | $71,588 | $15,000 | Excellent | $18,837 | Manageable | 97th percentile mobility |
| #13 | Clemson UniversityPublic | $71,513 | $21,500 | Manageable | $35,463 | High | 89th percentile mobility |
| #14 | $69,960 | $19,500 | Good | $26,987 | Challenging | 89th percentile mobility | |
| #15 | Wofford CollegePrivate | $68,964 | $25,732 | Good | $58,390 | High | 85th percentile mobility |
| #16 | $68,758 | $20,121 | Excellent | $23,000 | Good | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #17 | University Of GeorgiaPublic | $68,726 | $18,500 | Excellent | $20,855 | Manageable | 94th percentile mobility |
| #18 | Washington CollegePrivate | $65,518 | $26,956 | Manageable | $54,726 | High | 82th percentile mobility |
| #19 | Auburn UniversityPublic | $65,337 | $21,000 | Excellent | $43,605 | High | 89th percentile mobility |
| #20 | The University Of The SouthPrivate | $64,911 | — | — | — | — | 81th percentile mobility |
| #21 | Towson UniversityPublic | $64,390 | $18,718 | Excellent | $28,489 | Challenging | 95th percentile mobility |
| #22 | $63,126 | $20,654 | Excellent | $31,890 | Challenging | 93th percentile mobility | |
| #23 | Texas Tech UniversityPublic | $62,454 | $21,500 | Good | $23,443 | High | 97th percentile mobility |
| #24 | University Of HoustonPublic | $62,377 | — | — | — | — | 100th percentile mobility |
| #25 | $62,177 | $21,500 | Good | $31,393 | High | 94th 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 →
