2027 Best Value Anthropology Schools in Tennessee
[Anthropology](/majors/social-sciences/anthropology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong anthropology education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for anthropology students.
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2027 Best Value Anthropology Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the anthropology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Anthropology Schools
Our analysis ranked Vanderbilt University the best value for a degree in anthropology in Tennessee. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Anthropology graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Soon after graduation, anthropology degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
A rank of #2 makes Middle Tennessee State University one of the best values for anthropology. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, while out-of-state students pay about $31,574. Typical student debt for anthropology graduates is $20,793. Anthropology graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $21,878 early in their careers. Set against $20,793 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Tennessee one of the best values for anthropology. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,812, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Typical student debt for anthropology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, anthropology degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $24,772. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
Rhodes College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value anthropology schools. Set in the city of Memphis, Rhodes College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $57,110 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for anthropology graduates is $23,078. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $40,807. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
More Anthropology Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
