10 Transportation colleges in the South with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $54,534.
We started with Transportation programs scoring 60th percentile or above for mobility—schools that actually serve low-income students. Then we ranked by earnings. The result: 10 programs that prove accessibility and strong outcomes aren't mutually exclusive.
Transportation outcomes peak at Texas A & M University-College Station, where graduates earn $72,097 while the school maintains a 99th percentile mobility score. Across the South, these mobility-focused programs average $54,534 in graduate earnings—demonstrating that schools serving low-income students deliver results.
Texas Southern University serves 71% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $38,924. The best mobility schools deliver a double win: Texas A & M combines 99th percentile mobility with just a 3% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' affordability category.
Earnings: $72,097 | Mobility: 99th percentile
71% Pell students with $38,924 earnings
3% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
10% family burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $72,097 | $17,804 | Excellent | $32,258 | Excellent | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | Auburn UniversityPublic | $65,337 | — | — | — | — | 89th percentile mobility |
| #3 | $63,126 | $20,654 | Excellent | $31,890 | Good | 93th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $57,413 | $20,500 | Excellent | $38,513 | Manageable | 93th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $57,010 | $19,250 | Excellent | $23,211 | Good | 98th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | $52,279 | $22,135 | Excellent | $18,071 | Good | 78th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | $48,541 | $20,000 | Excellent | $14,229 | Good | 90th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | $45,795 | $22,500 | Excellent | $14,685 | Manageable | 82th percentile mobility | |
| #9 | Liberty UniversityPrivate | $44,813 | $24,500 | Excellent | $16,398 | Excellent | 99th percentile mobility |
| #10 | $38,924 | — | — | — | — | 88th 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 →
