2027 Best Value Civil Engineering Schools in Tennessee
[Civil Engineering](/majors/engineering/civil-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong civil engineering education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value civil engineering schools.
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2027 Best Value Civil Engineering Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in civil engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Civil Engineering Schools
University Of Memphis earned the #1 spot for value among civil engineering schools in Tennessee. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,384 for out-of-state students. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $64,780 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,750 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Tennessee Technological University one of the best values for civil engineering. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $15,576. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,870 in student loans. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $63,577. Set against $20,870 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in civil engineering will find it at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga, which ranked #3. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public school located in the city of Chattanooga. Students from in state pay about $10,448 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,512. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,747 in student loans. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga generally make around $65,419. That is a strong return on a $20,747 median debt. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga admits about 81% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in civil engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the civil engineering program here. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
Tennessee State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in civil engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $22,416. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $29,489. Civil Engineering graduates of Tennessee State University earn a median of $45,060 early in their careers. Set against $29,489 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee came in at #6 for value in civil engineering this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,450 in student loans. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $67,818. Set against $21,450 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Lipscomb University earned the #7 position for value in civil engineering this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,572. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Civil Engineering graduates of Lipscomb University earn a median of $48,949 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
More Civil Engineering Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
