6 Social Work colleges in Kentucky with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $49,594.
We started with Social Work programs scoring 60th percentile or above for mobility—schools that actually serve low-income students. Then we ranked by earnings. The result: 6 programs that prove accessibility and strong outcomes aren't mutually exclusive.
University Of Kentucky leads the rankings, producing Social Work graduates earning $59,025 while maintaining a 92nd percentile mobility score. Across this list, average graduate earnings reach $49,594—demonstrating that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes, not just access.
Eastern Kentucky University serves 39% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $45,795. Even better: graduates face just a manageable payment burden, landing in the 'Manageable' category. These schools deliver both access AND affordability.
Earnings: $59,025 | Mobility: 92nd percentile
38.6% Pell students with $45,795 earnings
16.1% payment burden | Manageable
30.6% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of KentuckyPublic | $59,025 | $22,500 | Challenging | $30,006 | High | 92th percentile mobility |
| #2 | University Of LouisvillePublic | $53,899 | $20,500 | Manageable | $20,717 | High | 86th percentile mobility |
| #3 | $50,220 | $23,000 | Challenging | $14,877 | High | 72th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $45,795 | $22,500 | Manageable | $14,685 | High | 81th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | Murray State UniversityPublic | $44,737 | $20,500 | Challenging | $18,465 | High | 76th percentile mobility |
| #6 | $43,889 | $22,095 | Challenging | $18,310 | High | 79th 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 →
