6 Natural Resources colleges in Virginia with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $67,716.
Most rankings ignore accessibility. We flipped the model: first, filter for schools that actually enroll and graduate low-income students (60th percentile+ mobility). Then rank by earnings. These 6 Natural Resources programs made the cut.
University Of Virginia-Main Campus leads the rankings, producing Natural Resources graduates earning $86,863 while maintaining a 93rd percentile mobility score. Virginia Tech follows at $81,698 with 95th percentile mobility. These outcomes prove schools serving low-income students can compete at the highest levels.
George Mason University exemplifies the double win: 98th percentile mobility with graduates facing just a 10.8% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' affordability tier. With 30% first-generation students and 30% Pell recipients, the school delivers both access and manageable debt outcomes.
Earnings: $86,863 | Mobility: 93rd percentile
39% Pell students with $44,813 earnings
9.6% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
26.9% family burden | High burden - payment over 25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $86,863 | $17,500 | Good | $28,903 | High | 93th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | $81,698 | $21,500 | Good | $35,325 | Challenging | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $76,343 | $19,500 | Good | $25,142 | High | 98th percentile mobility |
| #4 | Randolph-Macon CollegePrivate | $58,448 | $27,000 | Good | $46,254 | High | 78th percentile mobility |
| #5 | $58,128 | $21,500 | Manageable | $23,585 | High | 94th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | Liberty UniversityPrivate | $44,813 | $24,500 | Manageable | $16,398 | High | 98th 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 →
