2026 Best Value General Civil Engineering Schools in Tennessee
[General Civil Engineering](/majors/engineering/civil-engineering/general-civil-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general civil engineering students.
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2026 Best Value General Civil Engineering Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general civil engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Civil Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga the best value for a degree in general civil engineering in Tennessee. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,448 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,512. General Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,747 in student loans. Early-career general civil engineering graduates make about $65,419. Set against $20,747 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Tennessee State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general civil engineering schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,616, with out-of-state students paying around $22,416. Students borrow a median of $29,489 to complete the general civil engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from Tennessee State University generally make around $45,060. Set against $29,489 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Tennessee State University admits about 70% of applicants.
University Of Memphis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general civil engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,728, compared with $15,384 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general civil engineering graduates is $29,750. General Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $64,780 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general civil engineering will find it at Tennessee Technological University, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,376, while out-of-state students pay about $15,576. Students borrow a median of $20,870 to complete the general civil engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from Tennessee Technological University generally make around $63,577. Set against $20,870 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Tennessee Technological University admits about 76% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes The University Of Tennessee one of the best values for general civil engineering. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,812 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Students borrow a median of $21,450 to complete the general civil engineering program here. Early-career general civil engineering graduates make about $67,818. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University placed #6 among the best values for general civil engineering. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. General Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Early-career general civil engineering graduates make about $77,997. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
More General Civil Engineering Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
