2026 Best Value Elementary Education Schools in Tennessee
[Elementary Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/elementary-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 26 schools to find the best return on investment for elementary education students.
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2026 Best Value Elementary Education Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in elementary education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Elementary Education Schools
Middle Tennessee State University earned the #1 spot for value among elementary 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, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the elementary education program here. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $42,657. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Christian Brothers University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value elementary education schools. Set in the city of Memphis, Christian Brothers University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,420. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $32,416. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Christian Brothers University generally make around $51,040. That is a strong return on a $32,416 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in elementary education will find it at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,448, with out-of-state students paying around $18,512. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $22,517 in student loans. Elementary Education graduates of The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn a median of $44,879 early in their careers. Set against $22,517 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Tennessee Technological University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value elementary education schools. Tennessee Technological University is a large public school located in the town of Cookeville. Students from in state pay about $11,376 in tuition and fees, 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. The acceptance rate is 76%.
A rank of #5 makes Tennessee State University one of the best values for elementary education. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,616 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,416 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $29,000. Elementary Education graduates of Tennessee State University earn a median of $34,756 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt. Tennessee State University admits about 70% of applicants.
Trevecca Nazarene University landed the #6 spot for elementary education value this year. Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,300. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $24,962 in student loans. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $47,348. That is a strong return on a $24,962 median debt. Trevecca Nazarene University admits about 69% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University placed #7 among the best values for elementary education. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $13,975. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $50,383. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Carson Newman College placed #8 among the best values for elementary education. Located in the suburb of Jefferson City, Carson Newman College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,700. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the elementary education program here. Elementary Education graduates of Carson Newman College earn a median of $45,527 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Freed Hardeman University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value elementary education schools. Set in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,620. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $23,125. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Freed Hardeman University generally make around $40,936. Set against $23,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Johnson University placed #10 among the best values for elementary education. Set in the rural area of Knoxville, Johnson University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,122. Students borrow a median of $23,819 to complete the elementary education program here. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Johnson University generally make around $43,102. That is a strong return on a $23,819 median debt. Johnson University admits about 65% of applicants.
Lee University landed the #11 spot for elementary education value this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $23,790. Students borrow a median of $23,832 to complete the elementary education program here. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $46,351. Set against $23,832 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lee University admits about 70% of applicants.
King College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value elementary education schools. Set in the city of Bristol, King College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $20,397 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete the elementary education program here. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $36,576. Set against $22,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Southern Adventist University landed the #13 spot for elementary education value this year. Located in the suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $27,300. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete the elementary education program here. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $43,283. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Lipscomb University landed the #14 spot for elementary education value this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,572. Students borrow a median of $16,563 to complete the elementary education program here. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $50,950. That is a strong return on a $16,563 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Belmont University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value elementary education schools. Belmont 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 $42,540. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $23,447. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $47,237. That is a strong return on a $23,447 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
More Elementary Education Rankings
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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 · 26 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.
