2027 Best Value Elementary Education Schools in Tennessee
[Elementary Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/elementary-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong elementary education education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value elementary education schools.
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2027 Best Value Elementary Education Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the elementary education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Elementary Education Schools
Christian Brothers University tops our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools in Tennessee. Set in the city of Memphis, Christian Brothers University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,420. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $32,416. Elementary Education graduates of Christian Brothers University earn a median of $51,040 early in their careers. Set against $32,416 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Christian Brothers University admits about 87% of applicants.
Middle Tennessee State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. Students from in state pay about $10,266 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $22,500. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $42,657. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
Tennessee Technological University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in elementary education, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,376, compared with $15,576 for out-of-state students. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $14,566 in student loans. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $39,034. That is a strong return on a $14,566 median debt. Tennessee Technological University admits about 76% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Martin Methodist College one of the best values for elementary education. Located in the town of Pulaski, Martin Methodist College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,924. Students borrow a median of $23,308 to complete the elementary education program here. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Martin Methodist College generally make around $40,832. That is a strong return on a $23,308 median debt. Martin Methodist College admits about 87% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Vanderbilt University one of the best values for elementary education. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $13,975. Elementary Education graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $50,383 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earned the #6 position for value in elementary education this year. Set in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,448 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,512. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $22,517 in student loans. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga generally make around $44,879. That is a strong return on a $22,517 median debt. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga admits about 81% of applicants.
Tennessee Wesleyan College earned the #7 position for value in elementary education this year. Located in the town of Athens, Tennessee Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,814. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $29,750. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $58,859. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tennessee Wesleyan College admits about 69% of applicants.
Tennessee State University earned the #8 position for value in elementary education this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,616, while out-of-state students pay about $22,416. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $34,756. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tennessee State University admits about 70% of applicants.
Trevecca Nazarene University landed the #9 spot for elementary education value this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,300. Students borrow a median of $24,962 to complete the elementary education program here. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Trevecca Nazarene University generally make around $47,348. Set against $24,962 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Cumberland University came in at #10 for value in elementary education this year. Located in the town of Lebanon, Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $27,840 in tuition and fees. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $21,902 in student loans. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Cumberland University generally make around $47,696. Set against $21,902 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Lee University placed #11 among the best values for elementary education. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,790. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $23,832. Elementary Education graduates of Lee University earn a median of $46,351 early in their careers. Set against $23,832 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lee University admits about 70% of applicants.
Maryville College placed #12 among the best values for elementary education. Located in the suburb of Maryville, Maryville College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $39,284. Students borrow a median of $26,428 to complete the elementary education program here. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $42,971. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Carson Newman College came in at #13 for value in elementary education this year. 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. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the elementary education program here. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $45,527. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Carson Newman College admits about 90% of applicants.
Bryan College Dayton came in at #14 for value in elementary education this year. Set in the town of Dayton, Bryan College Dayton is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $19,800. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $25,652. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $44,067. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Freed Hardeman University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Located in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $25,620. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $40,936. That is a strong return on a $23,125 median debt. Freed Hardeman University admits about 60% of applicants.
Johnson University earned the #16 position for value in elementary education this year. Set in the rural area of Knoxville, Johnson University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,122. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $23,819 in student loans. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $43,102. That is a strong return on a $23,819 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
King College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Located in the city of Bristol, King College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,397. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $22,750. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from King College generally make around $36,576. That is a strong return on a $22,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Southern Adventist University placed #18 among the best values for elementary education. Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Collegedale. Students from in state pay about $27,300 in tuition and fees. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $43,283. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Lipscomb University came in at #19 for value in elementary education this year. Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,572. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $16,563. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $50,950. That is a strong return on a $16,563 median debt. Lipscomb University admits about 68% of applicants.
Belmont University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,540 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $23,447. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $47,237. That is a strong return on a $23,447 median debt. Belmont University admits about 95% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
