2026 Best Value Art Education Schools in Tennessee
[Art Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/art-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong art education education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for art education students.
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2026 Best Value Art Education Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in art education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Art Education Schools
Middle Tennessee State University earned the #1 spot for value among art education schools in Tennessee. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, while out-of-state students pay about $31,574. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $22,754. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $43,575. That is a strong return on a $22,754 median debt. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Tennessee one of the best values for art education. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $22,859. Art Education graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $49,826 early in their careers. Set against $22,859 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Lee University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in art education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,790. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $29,625. Art Education graduates of Lee University earn a median of $48,056 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in art education will find it at Belmont University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,540. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $23,447. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $49,699. That is a strong return on a $23,447 median debt. Roughly 95% 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
