11 Social Sciences colleges in Tennessee with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $55,764.
These 12 Social Sciences programs in Tennessee 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.
Vanderbilt University leads the rankings, producing Social Sciences graduates earning $91,565 while maintaining an 86th percentile mobility score. Across this list, average graduate earnings reach $54,677—demonstrating that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes, not just access.
Austin Peay State University serves 46% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while producing graduates earning $44,301. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt University exemplifies the double win: 86th percentile mobility with just a 5.4% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' affordability tier.
Earnings: $91,565 | Mobility: 86th percentile
45.6% Pell students with $44,301 earnings
5.4% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
19.2% family burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $91,565 | $14,000 | Excellent | $30,844 | Good | 86th percentile mobility |
| #2 | Rhodes CollegePrivate | $66,651 | $21,761 | Excellent | $52,509 | Challenging | 78th percentile mobility |
| #3 | The University Of The SouthPrivate | $64,911 | $22,855 | Excellent | $56,450 | Challenging | 81th percentile mobility |
| #4 | $60,249 | $20,500 | Excellent | $30,610 | Challenging | 94th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $51,151 | $19,500 | Excellent | $17,353 | Manageable | 74th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | $48,541 | $20,000 | Good | $14,229 | Challenging | 90th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | $48,501 | $15,650 | Excellent | $11,640 | Manageable | 88th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | University Of MemphisPublic | $48,458 | $23,300 | Manageable | $15,393 | Challenging | 88th percentile mobility |
| #9 | $44,859 | $19,442 | Good | $16,938 | Challenging | 76th percentile mobility | |
| #10 | $44,301 | $20,547 | Manageable | $14,710 | Challenging | 78th percentile mobility | |
| #11 | $44,213 | $21,024 | Good | $13,218 | Manageable | 70th 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 →
