2026 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Tennessee
[Curriculum & Instruction](/majors/education/curriculum-instruction/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for curriculum & instruction students.
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2026 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the curriculum & instruction degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools
Our analysis ranked Tennessee State University the best value for a degree in curriculum & instruction in Tennessee. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, compared with $22,416 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,489 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $45,060. Set against $29,489 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in curriculum & instruction will find it at Middle Tennessee State University, which ranked #2. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $22,754 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $52,200 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,754 median debt. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Memphis earned it the #3 place for curriculum & instruction. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $26,315 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $64,245. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Tennessee Technological University earned it the #4 place for curriculum & instruction. Located in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,376, compared with $15,576 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,580 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Tennessee Technological University earn a median of $47,918 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tennessee Technological University admits about 76% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Austin Peay State University one of the best values for curriculum & instruction. Austin Peay State University is a large public school located in the city of Clarksville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,006, compared with $14,766 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,530 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Austin Peay State University earn a median of $52,403 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,530 median debt. Austin Peay State University admits about 96% of applicants.
East Tennessee State University came in at #6 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,216, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $21,301 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from East Tennessee State University generally make around $45,444. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. East Tennessee State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Lincoln Memorial University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Harrogate. In-state tuition and fees average $26,938. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $20,693 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Lincoln Memorial University generally make around $53,137. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Carson Newman College placed #8 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Carson Newman College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Jefferson City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,700. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Carson Newman College generally make around $48,797. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Carson Newman College admits about 90% of applicants.
Lipscomb University landed the #9 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,572. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Lipscomb University generally make around $51,922. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
