2027 Best Value Modern Languages Schools in Tennessee
[Modern Languages](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/linguistics-comparative-literature/modern-languages/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for modern languages students.
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2027 Best Value Modern Languages Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in modern languages, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Modern Languages Schools
For return on investment in modern languages, no school beat Austin Peay State University this year. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,006, with out-of-state students paying around $14,766. Modern Languages graduates carry a median of $24,530 in student loans. Soon after graduation, modern languages degree recipients from Austin Peay State University generally make around $44,360. Set against $24,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Memphis one of the best values for modern languages. 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, compared with $15,384 for out-of-state students. Modern Languages graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Modern Languages graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $23,533 early in their careers. Set against $25,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in modern languages will find it at Middle Tennessee State University, which ranked #3. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Typical student debt for modern languages graduates is $21,187. Soon after graduation, modern languages degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $34,856. That is a strong return on a $21,187 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Tennessee Technological University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in modern languages, landing the #4 spot this year. Tennessee Technological University is a large public school located in the town of Cookeville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,376, with out-of-state students paying around $15,576. Typical student debt for modern languages graduates is $17,580. Early-career modern languages graduates make about $46,981. Set against $17,580 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a great value for students pursuing a degree in modern languages, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,448, while out-of-state students pay about $18,512. Modern Languages graduates carry a median of $23,324 in student loans. Soon after graduation, modern languages degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga generally make around $50,000. That is a strong return on a $23,324 median debt. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga admits about 81% of applicants.
East Tennessee State University came in at #6 for value in modern languages this year. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,216, compared with $13,726 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,301 to complete the modern languages program here. Early-career modern languages graduates make about $45,444. That is a strong return on a $21,301 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The University Of Tennessee ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value modern languages schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $20,612 to complete the modern languages program here. Modern Languages graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $31,713 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
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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.
