2026 Best Value Family & Consumer Economics Schools in Tennessee

[Family & Consumer Economics](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/family-consumer-economics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value family & consumer economics schools.
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2026 Best Value Family & Consumer Economics Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the family & consumer economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Family & Consumer Economics Schools
For return on investment in family & consumer economics, no school beat Tennessee State University this year. Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Nashville. 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 family & consumer economics graduates is $30,099. Early-career family & consumer economics graduates make about $32,793. That is a strong return on a $30,099 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Middle Tennessee State University one of the best values for family & consumer economics. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,266 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Typical student debt for family & consumer economics graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, family & consumer economics degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $31,988. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Students looking for strong value in family & consumer economics will find it at The University Of Tennessee, which ranked #3. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. In-state tuition and fees average $13,812, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Family & Consumer Economics graduates carry a median of $17,844 in student loans. Soon after graduation, family & consumer economics degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $43,014. Set against $17,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.