2027 Best General Education Schools in Tennessee
General Education programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
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.
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Best Schools for General Education in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general education education in Tennessee.
Top Schools in General Education
No school ranked higher than Rhodes College this year for general education. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Memphis. Rhodes College graduates 84% of students within six years. Rhodes College awarded about 16 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Rhodes College earn around $40,807 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,364 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for Rhodes College
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Tennessee one of the top schools for general education. This very large public university is located in the city of Knoxville. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 136 general education degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from The University Of Tennessee earn around $72,937 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,859.
Read more about the general education program at The University Of Tennessee
Volunteer State Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Gallatin, Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 29 general education degrees were awarded at Volunteer State Community College in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Volunteer State Community College earn a median of $40,137 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,462.
More information about a degree in general education from Volunteer State Community College
A rank of #4 makes Cumberland University one of the top schools for general education. Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lebanon. About 42% of students finish within six years. Cumberland University awarded about 29 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $50,607 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,902.
Read more about the general education program at Cumberland University
Motlow State Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general education, ranking #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. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Motlow State Community College generally make around $43,750. Typical student debt for the program is $6,470.
More information about a degree in general education from Motlow State Community College
Pellissippi State Community College earned the #6 position for general education this year. Located in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public university. Pellissippi State Community College awarded about 22 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Pellissippi State Community College generally make around $43,816. Pellissippi State Community College graduates carry a median of $8,951 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at Pellissippi State Community College
Columbia State Community College came in at #7 for general education this year. Columbia State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Columbia. There were roughly 29 general education students who graduated with this degree at Columbia State Community College in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Columbia State Community College earn a median of $44,481 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,674 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general education program at Columbia State Community College
Roane State Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. 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. Roane State Community College graduates carry a median of $9,408 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from Roane State Community College
Union University placed #9 among the best general education schools. Set in the city of Jackson, Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Union University graduates 66% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 general education students who graduated with this degree at Union University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Union University generally make around $48,394. Typical student debt for the program is $28,605.
Get the full general education details for Union University
Austin Peay State University earned the #10 position for general education this year. Austin Peay State University is a large public school located in the city of Clarksville. Austin Peay State University graduates 39% of students within six years. There were roughly 66 general education students who graduated with this degree at Austin Peay State University 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.
More information about a degree in general education from Austin Peay State University
Milligan College placed #11 among the best general education schools. Set in the suburb of Milligan, Milligan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. Milligan College awarded about 20 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Milligan College earn around $64,327 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,150 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for Milligan College
Chattanooga State Community College landed the #12 spot for general education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chattanooga. About 18 general education degrees were awarded at Chattanooga State Community College in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Chattanooga State Community College earn a median of $37,252 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,079 to complete this degree.
Get the full general education details for Chattanooga State Community College
Nashville State Community College earned the #13 position for general education this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Nashville State Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 55 general education students who graduated with this degree at Nashville State Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Nashville State Community College earn around $41,456 in the first couple years of their career. Nashville State Community College graduates carry a median of $16,745 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from Nashville State Community College
Bryan College Dayton placed #14 among the best general education schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Dayton. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Bryan College Dayton awarded about 13 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $44,067 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,652.
Read more about the general education program at Bryan College Dayton
Walters State Community College earned the #15 position for general education this year. Set in the city of Morristown, Walters State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 19 general education degrees were awarded at Walters State Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Walters State Community College earn around $12,280 in the first couple years of their career. Walters State Community College graduates carry a median of $10,210 in student loans.
Get the full general education details for Walters State Community College
Tusculum College placed #16 among the best general education schools. Set in the town of Greeneville, Tusculum College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Tusculum College graduates 26% of students within six years. About 65 general education degrees were awarded at Tusculum College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $40,527 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,832.
See the full general education program report for 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. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, 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.
