2027 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Tennessee
Liberal Arts General Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 31 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for liberal arts general studies students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Liberal Arts General Studies 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 general studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Liberal Arts General Studies
No school ranked higher than Tennessee Technological University this year for liberal arts general studies. Set in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Tennessee Technological University awarded about 62 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Tennessee Technological University earn around $48,808 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
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Middle Tennessee State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 122 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Middle Tennessee State University earn around $50,322 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,723.
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Volunteer State Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts general studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Gallatin, Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 572 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Volunteer State Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $26,355 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete this degree.
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Freed Hardeman University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts general studies, ranking #4. Set in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Freed Hardeman University graduates 69% of students within six years. About 15 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Freed Hardeman University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Freed Hardeman University earn around $54,530 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,479.
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Cumberland University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts general studies, landing the #5 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Lebanon. About 42% of students finish within six years. About 141 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Cumberland University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $23,057 in their early career. Cumberland University graduates carry a median of $19,263 in student loans.
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Belmont University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Belmont University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Belmont University earn around $41,245 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,438.
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Motlow State Community College placed #7 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the rural area of Tullahoma, Motlow State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 750 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Motlow State Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Motlow State Community College generally make around $26,915. Motlow State Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans.
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Northeast State Community College placed #8 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Blountville. About 492 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Northeast State Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Northeast State Community College generally make around $24,152. Northeast State Community College graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans.
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East Tennessee State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. There were roughly 79 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at East Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of $32,474 early in their careers. East Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Pellissippi State Community College landed the #10 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 900 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Pellissippi State Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Pellissippi State Community College generally make around $26,757. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete this degree.
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Southern Adventist University placed #11 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Southern Adventist University graduates 55% of students within six years. About 10 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Southern Adventist University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $61,366 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,498 to complete this degree.
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Austin Peay State University landed the #12 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. Austin Peay State University graduates 39% of students within six years. Austin Peay State University awarded about 861 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $39,947 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,314.
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Walters State Community College landed the #13 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Morristown, Walters State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 660 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Walters State Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Walters State Community College earn a median of $24,893 early in their careers. Walters State Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans.
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Nashville State Community College landed the #14 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Nashville State Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 628 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Nashville State Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Nashville State Community College earn a median of $29,280 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,309 to complete this degree.
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University Of Memphis placed #15 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. University Of Memphis awarded about 94 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $46,132 in their early career. University Of Memphis graduates carry a median of $38,972 in student loans.
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Lee University placed #16 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 51 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Lee University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $45,678 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,979.
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Chattanooga State Community College came in at #17 for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 467 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Chattanooga State Community College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Chattanooga State Community College earn a median of $25,797 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,704.
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Union University earned the #18 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of Jackson, Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 66% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Union University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Union University earn around $41,320 in the first couple years of their career. Union University graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
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The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earned the #19 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 12 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn a median of $50,000 early in their careers. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates carry a median of $23,324 in student loans.
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Columbia State Community College landed the #20 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Columbia State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Columbia. There were roughly 549 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Columbia State Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $26,438 in their early career. Columbia State Community College graduates carry a median of $8,517 in student loans.
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Southwest Tennessee Community College landed the #21 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Memphis. There were roughly 557 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Southwest Tennessee Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Southwest Tennessee Community College generally make around $28,980. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts general studies program report for Southwest Tennessee Community College
Jackson State Community College earned the #22 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Jackson State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Jackson. There were roughly 391 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Jackson State Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $27,378 in their early career. Jackson State Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans.
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Carson Newman College landed the #23 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Jefferson City. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 30 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Carson Newman College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Carson Newman College earn a median of $48,797 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
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Martin Methodist College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the town of Pulaski, Martin Methodist College is a small public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. About 20 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Martin Methodist College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Martin Methodist College earn a median of $40,832 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,308 to complete this degree.
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Tennessee State University came in at #25 for liberal arts general studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Nashville. About 35% of students finish within six years. Tennessee State University awarded about 24 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $37,716 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $38,562 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts general studies from Tennessee State University
Rest of the Top 31 Liberal Arts General Studies Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s liberal arts general studies ranking:
More Liberal Arts General Studies 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 · 31 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.
