2027 Best Value General Engineering Schools in Tennessee
[General Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/other-general-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general engineering education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for general engineering students.
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2027 Best Value General Engineering Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Engineering Schools
Leading the list is Tennessee Technological University, our #1 best value for general engineering in Tennessee. Located in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,376, compared with $15,576 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,580 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Tennessee Technological University generally make around $46,981. That is a strong return on a $17,580 median debt. Tennessee Technological University admits about 76% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Memphis one of the best values for general engineering. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,315 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $48,890. Set against $26,315 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Students looking for strong value in general engineering will find it at The University Of Tennessee Martin, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,560, with out-of-state students paying around $16,600. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee Martin generally make around $63,746. Set against $29,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Tennessee Martin admits about 88% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earned it the #4 place for general engineering. 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, compared with $18,512 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,324 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn a median of $50,000 early in their careers. Set against $23,324 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
A rank of #5 makes Vanderbilt University one of the best values for general engineering. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
Tennessee State University landed the #6 spot for general engineering value this year. Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Nashville. In-state tuition and fees average $8,616, compared with $22,416 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,489 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $45,060. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 6 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.
