2027 Best Elementary Education Schools in Tennessee
Elementary Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools to find the best for elementary education students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Elementary 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 elementary education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Elementary Education
Leading the list is Vanderbilt University, our #1 school for elementary education. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 11 elementary education degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $50,383 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975.
See the full elementary education program report for Vanderbilt University
Students looking for a strong elementary education program will find one at Tennessee Technological University, which ranked #2. This large public university is located in the town of Cookeville. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 80 elementary education degrees were awarded at Tennessee Technological University in the most recent year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $39,034 in their early career. Tennessee Technological University graduates carry a median of $14,566 in student loans.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Tennessee Technological University
A rank of #3 makes Middle Tennessee State University one of the top schools for elementary education. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. Middle Tennessee State University graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 59 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Elementary Education graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $42,657 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Middle Tennessee State University
Students looking for a strong elementary education program will find one at Belmont University, which ranked #4. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Belmont University graduates 70% of students within six years. Belmont University awarded about 26 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $47,237 in their early career. Belmont University graduates carry a median of $23,447 in student loans.
Get the full elementary education details for Belmont University
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in elementary education, ranking #5. Set in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public institution. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $44,879 in their early career. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates carry a median of $22,517 in student loans.
Get the full elementary education details for The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga
Cumberland University placed #6 among the best elementary education schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Lebanon. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cumberland University awarded about 12 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Elementary Education graduates of Cumberland University earn a median of $47,696 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,902 to complete this degree.
Get the full elementary education details for Cumberland University
Lee University landed the #7 spot for elementary education this year. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Lee University graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at Lee University in the most recent data year. Elementary Education graduates of Lee University earn a median of $46,351 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,832 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Lee University
Southern Adventist University placed #8 among the best elementary education schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Collegedale. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 elementary education degrees were awarded at Southern Adventist University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Southern Adventist University generally make around $43,283. Southern Adventist University graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
Get the full elementary education details for Southern Adventist University
Bryan College Dayton landed the #9 spot for elementary education this year. 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%. Bryan College Dayton awarded about 19 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from Bryan College Dayton earn around $44,067 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,652.
Read more about the elementary education program at Bryan College Dayton
Maryville College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best elementary education schools. Set in the suburb of Maryville, Maryville College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 11 elementary education degrees were awarded at Maryville College in the most recent year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $42,971 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,428 to complete this degree.
Get the full elementary education details for Maryville College
Trevecca Nazarene University earned the #11 position for elementary education this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 22 elementary education degrees were awarded at Trevecca Nazarene University in the most recent year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from Trevecca Nazarene University earn around $47,348 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,962 to complete this degree.
See the full elementary education program report for Trevecca Nazarene University
King College landed the #12 spot for elementary education this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bristol. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at King College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from King College generally make around $36,576. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete this degree.
Read more about the elementary education program at King College
Martin Methodist College landed the #13 spot for elementary education this year. This small public university is located in the town of Pulaski. About 35% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at Martin Methodist College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from Martin Methodist College earn around $40,832 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,308.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Martin Methodist College
Tennessee Wesleyan College earned the #14 position for elementary education this year. Set in the town of Athens, Tennessee Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Tennessee Wesleyan College graduates 48% of students within six years. About 15 elementary education degrees were awarded at Tennessee Wesleyan College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Tennessee Wesleyan College generally make around $58,859. Students borrow a median of $29,750 to complete this degree.
Get the full elementary education details for Tennessee Wesleyan College
More Elementary Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 14 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.
