5 Social Sciences colleges in Alabama with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $54,735.
These 5 Social Sciences 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.
Auburn University leads the rankings, producing Social Sciences graduates earning $65,337 while maintaining an 89th percentile mobility score. Across this list, average graduate earnings reach $54,735—demonstrating that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes, not just access.
University of Alabama at Birmingham serves 33% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $54,501. The best mobility schools deliver a double win: Auburn University exemplifies this with 89th percentile mobility and just an 8.2% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category.
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Auburn UniversityPublic | $65,337 | $21,000 | Excellent | $43,605 | High | 89th percentile mobility |
| #2 | $59,221 | $22,750 | Good | $48,666 | High | 92th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | $54,501 | $22,300 | Good | $20,498 | High | 86th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $49,379 | $24,929 | High | $26,683 | High | 84th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $45,235 | $22,189 | Manageable | $13,672 | High | 86th 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 →
