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2026 Best Value General Physics Schools in Tennessee

[General Physics](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/general-physics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools to find the best return on investment for general physics students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value General Physics Schools in Tennessee

2026 Best Value General Physics Schools in Tennessee

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general physics, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value General Physics Schools

1

Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN

$10,266 In-State Tuition & Fees

$22,754 Avg Student Debt

$48,541 Median Earnings (10yr)

Our analysis ranked Middle Tennessee State University the best value for a degree in general physics in Tennessee. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $22,754. Early-career general physics graduates make about $43,575. Set against $22,754 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.

2

The University Of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN

$13,812 In-State Tuition & Fees

$25,344 Avg Student Debt

$60,249 Median Earnings (10yr)

The University Of Tennessee came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general physics schools. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Students borrow a median of $25,344 to complete the general physics program here. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $49,826. That is a strong return on a $25,344 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 20 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.