2026 Best Value Pre-Engineering Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in pre-engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Pre-Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked Chattanooga State Community College the best value for a degree in pre-engineering in Tennessee. Located in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,772, with out-of-state students paying around $17,756. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete the pre-engineering program here. Soon after graduation, pre-engineering degree recipients from Chattanooga State Community College generally make around $37,252. That is a strong return on a $16,500 median debt.
University Of Memphis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in pre-engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,728, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Students borrow a median of $26,315 to complete the pre-engineering program here. Pre-Engineering graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $48,890 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,315 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
[Pre-Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/pre-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong pre-engineering education at a price that pays off.
