2027 Best General Education Schools in Tennessee
General Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general education students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for General Education in Tennessee
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in General Education
Rhodes College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in general education. Set in the city of Memphis, Rhodes College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 16 general education degrees were awarded at Rhodes College in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Rhodes College earn a median of $40,807 early in their careers. Rhodes College graduates carry a median of $25,364 in student loans.
Get the full general education details for Rhodes College
The University Of Tennessee is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 136 general education students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $72,937 in their early career. The University Of Tennessee graduates carry a median of $22,859 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from The University Of Tennessee
Volunteer State Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general education, ranking #3. Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Gallatin. Volunteer State Community College awarded about 29 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Volunteer State Community College earn a median of $40,137 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,462 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general education program at Volunteer State Community College
Cumberland University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Lebanon, Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 42% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 29 general education students who graduated with this degree at Cumberland University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Cumberland University generally make around $50,607. Typical student debt for the program is $21,902.
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Students looking for a strong general education program will find one at Motlow State Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the rural area of Tullahoma, Motlow State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 12 general education degrees were awarded at Motlow State Community College in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Motlow State Community College earn a median of $43,750 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $6,470.
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Pellissippi State Community College came in at #6 for general education this year. Pellissippi State Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Knoxville. About 22 general education degrees were awarded at Pellissippi State Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Pellissippi State Community College earn around $43,816 in the first couple years of their career. Pellissippi State Community College graduates carry a median of $8,951 in student loans.
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Columbia State Community College earned the #7 position for general education this year. Located in the town of Columbia, Columbia State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 29 general education degrees were awarded at Columbia State Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Columbia State Community College earn around $44,481 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,674 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for Columbia State Community College
Roane State Community College landed the #8 spot for general education this year. Set in the town of Harriman, Roane State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 11 general education students who graduated with this degree at Roane State Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $36,933 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,408.
Read more about the general education program at Roane State Community College
Union University earned the #9 position for general education this year. Set in the city of Jackson, Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 general education students who graduated with this degree at Union University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Union University earn around $48,394 in the first couple years of their career. Union University graduates carry a median of $28,605 in student loans.
See the full general education program report for Union University
Austin Peay State University placed #10 among the best general education schools. This large public university is located in the city of Clarksville. Austin Peay State University graduates 39% of students within six years. Austin Peay State University awarded about 66 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Austin Peay State University earn a median of $48,419 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,530.
See the full general education program report for Austin Peay State University
Milligan College placed #11 among the best general education schools. Located in the suburb of Milligan, Milligan College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 general education students who graduated with this degree at Milligan College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Milligan College generally make around $64,327. Students borrow a median of $26,150 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Milligan College
Chattanooga State Community College landed the #12 spot for general education this year. Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chattanooga. About 18 general education degrees were awarded at Chattanooga State Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Chattanooga State Community College generally make around $37,252. Chattanooga State Community College graduates carry a median of $12,079 in student loans.
Get the full general education details for Chattanooga State Community College
Nashville State Community College landed the #13 spot for general education this year. Nashville State Community College is a large public school located in the city of Nashville. About 55 general education degrees were awarded at Nashville State Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $41,456 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,745 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Nashville State Community College
Bryan College Dayton placed #14 among the best general education schools. Bryan College Dayton is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Dayton. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 13 general education students who graduated with this degree at Bryan College Dayton in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Bryan College Dayton earn a median of $44,067 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,652.
See the full general education program report for Bryan College Dayton
Walters State Community College placed #15 among the best general education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Morristown. There were roughly 19 general education students who graduated with this degree at Walters State Community College in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Walters State Community College earn a median of $12,280 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,210 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Walters State Community College
Tusculum College earned the #16 position for general education this year. Located in the town of Greeneville, Tusculum College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 26% of students complete a degree within six years here. Tusculum College awarded about 65 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Tusculum College generally make around $40,527. Typical student debt for the program is $25,832.
More information about a degree in general education from Tusculum College
More General Education Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 16 schools evaluated.
- 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.
