2027 Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in Tennessee
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their liberal arts / sciences & humanities programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 31 schools to find the best for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
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Best Schools for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall liberal arts / sciences & humanities education in Tennessee.
Top Schools in Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities
Our analysis ranked Tennessee Technological University the best school in the country for a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 62 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Tennessee Technological University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Tennessee Technological University earn around $48,808 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000.
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Middle Tennessee State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, ranking #2. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 122 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $50,322 in their early 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 / sciences & humanities, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Gallatin, Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 572 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Volunteer State Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Volunteer State Community College earn around $26,355 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,750.
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A rank of #4 makes Freed Hardeman University one of the top schools for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Freed Hardeman University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Freed Hardeman University generally make around $54,530. Typical student debt for the program is $24,479.
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A rank of #5 makes Cumberland University one of the top schools for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Lebanon. About 42% of students finish within six years. Cumberland University awarded about 141 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Cumberland University earn around $23,057 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,263.
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Belmont University landed the #6 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. 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 / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $41,245. Students borrow a median of $29,438 to complete this degree.
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Motlow State Community College placed #7 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the rural area of Tullahoma, Motlow State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 750 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Motlow State Community College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Motlow State Community College earn a median of $26,915 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
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Northeast State Community College came in at #8 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Blountville. Northeast State Community College awarded about 492 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Northeast State Community College generally make around $24,152. Typical student debt for the program is $6,000.
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East Tennessee State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 79 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at East Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from East Tennessee State University earn around $32,474 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Pellissippi State Community College placed #10 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 900 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Pellissippi State Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $26,757 in their early career. Pellissippi State Community College graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans.
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Southern Adventist University landed the #11 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Collegedale. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. Southern Adventist University awarded about 10 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Southern Adventist University generally make around $61,366. Students borrow a median of $25,498 to complete this degree.
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Austin Peay State University placed #12 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. 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 / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Austin Peay State University earn a median of $39,947 early in their careers. Austin Peay State University graduates carry a median of $22,314 in student loans.
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Walters State Community College earned the #13 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Morristown, Walters State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 660 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Walters State Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Walters State Community College earn a median of $24,893 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
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Nashville State Community College landed the #14 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This large public university is located in the city of Nashville. Nashville State Community College awarded about 628 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Nashville State Community College earn a median of $29,280 early in their careers. Nashville State Community College graduates carry a median of $13,309 in student loans.
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University Of Memphis landed the #15 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Memphis. About 51% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 94 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at University Of Memphis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $46,132. Students borrow a median of $38,972 to complete this degree.
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Lee University came in at #16 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 51 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Lee University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Lee University generally make around $45,678. Lee University graduates carry a median of $28,979 in student loans.
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Chattanooga State Community College came in at #17 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chattanooga. There were roughly 467 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Chattanooga State Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Chattanooga State Community College earn around $25,797 in the first couple years of their career. Chattanooga State Community College graduates carry a median of $12,704 in student loans.
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Union University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jackson. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Union University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Union University earn around $41,320 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga came in at #19 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public university. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga generally make around $50,000. Typical student debt for the program is $23,324.
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Columbia State Community College landed the #20 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the town of Columbia, Columbia State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 549 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Columbia State Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Columbia State Community College earn around $26,438 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,517.
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Southwest Tennessee Community College placed #21 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Memphis, Southwest Tennessee Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Southwest Tennessee Community College awarded about 557 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Southwest Tennessee Community College generally make around $28,980. Typical student debt for the program is $8,750.
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Jackson State Community College landed the #22 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Jackson, Jackson State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Jackson State Community College awarded about 391 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Jackson State Community College earn around $27,378 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
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Carson Newman College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities 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. There were roughly 30 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Carson Newman College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $48,797 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
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Martin Methodist College earned the #24 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the town of Pulaski, Martin Methodist College is a small public institution. About 35% of students finish within six years. About 20 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Martin Methodist College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $40,832 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,308.
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Tennessee State University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. About 24 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $37,716 in their early career. Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $38,562 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 31 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
These schools also placed among the best for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, 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.
