2027 Best Liberal Arts Schools in Tennessee
Liberal Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools to find the best for liberal arts students.
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Best Schools for Liberal Arts in Tennessee
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the liberal arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Liberal Arts
Volunteer State Community College tops our 2027 ranking of the best liberal arts schools. Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Gallatin. Volunteer State Community College awarded about 572 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $26,355 in their early career. Volunteer State Community College graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts program report for Volunteer State Community College
Belmont University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts, ranking #2. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Belmont University awarded about 19 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $41,245. Typical student debt for the program is $29,438.
Get the full liberal arts details for Belmont University
Motlow State Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts, ranking #3. Located in the rural area of Tullahoma, Motlow State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 750 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Motlow State Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Motlow State Community College earn around $26,915 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for Motlow State Community College
Northeast State Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the rural area of Blountville, Northeast State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Northeast State Community College awarded about 492 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Northeast State Community College earn a median of $24,152 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $6,000.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Northeast State Community College
East Tennessee State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts, ranking #5. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 79 liberal arts degrees were awarded at East Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from East Tennessee State University earn around $32,474 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
See the full liberal arts program report for East Tennessee State University
Pellissippi State Community College earned the #6 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 900 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Pellissippi State Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $26,757 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,750.
Get the full liberal arts details for Pellissippi State Community College
Southern Adventist University came in at #7 for liberal arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Collegedale. Southern Adventist University graduates 55% of students within six years. Southern Adventist University awarded about 10 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Southern Adventist University earn around $61,366 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,498 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Southern Adventist University
Austin Peay State University placed #8 among the best liberal arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Clarksville. Austin Peay State University graduates 39% of students within six years. There were roughly 88 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Austin Peay State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Austin Peay State University earn around $39,947 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,314 to complete this degree.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Austin Peay State University
Walters State Community College came in at #9 for liberal arts this year. Walters State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Morristown. Walters State Community College awarded about 660 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $24,893 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full liberal arts details for Walters State Community College
Nashville State Community College earned the #10 position for liberal arts this year. Nashville State Community College is a large public school located in the city of Nashville. About 628 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Nashville State Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Nashville State Community College earn around $29,280 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,309 to complete this degree.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Nashville State Community College
University Of Memphis came in at #11 for liberal arts this year. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. University Of Memphis graduates 51% of students within six years. University Of Memphis awarded about 65 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from University Of Memphis earn around $46,132 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $38,972.
Read more about the liberal arts program at University Of Memphis
Lee University placed #12 among the best liberal arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cleveland. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 50 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Lee University in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Lee University earn a median of $45,678 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $28,979.
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Chattanooga State Community College came in at #13 for liberal arts this year. Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chattanooga. Chattanooga State Community College awarded about 467 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $25,797 in their early career. Chattanooga State Community College graduates carry a median of $12,704 in student loans.
Get the full liberal arts details for Chattanooga State Community College
Columbia State Community College placed #14 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the town of Columbia, Columbia State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 549 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Columbia State Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $26,438 in their early career. Columbia State Community College graduates carry a median of $8,517 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts program report for Columbia State Community College
Southwest Tennessee Community College placed #15 among the best liberal arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Memphis. There were roughly 557 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Southwest Tennessee Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Southwest Tennessee Community College earn a median of $28,980 early in their careers. Southwest Tennessee Community College graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Southwest Tennessee Community College
Jackson State Community College placed #16 among the best liberal arts schools. Jackson State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Jackson. There were roughly 391 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Jackson State Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $27,378 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
See the full liberal arts program report for Jackson State Community College
Carson Newman College placed #17 among the best liberal arts schools. Carson Newman College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Jefferson City. About 52% of students finish within six years. About 11 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Carson Newman College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Carson Newman College earn around $48,797 in the first couple years of their career. Carson Newman College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Carson Newman College
Tennessee State University placed #18 among the best liberal arts schools. Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 35% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Tennessee State University generally make around $37,716. Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $38,562 in student loans.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Tennessee State University
Roane State Community College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Roane State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Harriman. About 449 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Roane State Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Roane State Community College generally make around $25,289. Students borrow a median of $8,721 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for Roane State Community College
Dyersburg State Community College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the town of Dyersburg, Dyersburg State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 476 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Dyersburg State Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Dyersburg State Community College earn around $26,735 in the first couple years of their career. Dyersburg State Community College graduates carry a median of $7,722 in student loans.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Dyersburg State Community College
Cleveland State Community College landed the #21 spot for liberal arts this year. Cleveland State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Cleveland. About 324 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Cleveland State Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Cleveland State Community College generally make around $18,249. Students borrow a median of $10,625 to complete this degree.
Get the full liberal arts details for Cleveland State Community College
More Liberal Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 21 schools evaluated.
- 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.
