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2026 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in Tennessee

[General Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/general-social-sciences/social-sciences-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general social sciences education at a price that pays off.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general social sciences students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in Tennessee

2026 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in Tennessee

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

Best Value General Social Sciences Schools

1

Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN

$9,006 In-State Tuition & Fees

$24,530 Avg Student Debt

$44,301 Median Earnings (10yr)

Austin Peay State University tops our 2026 list of the best value general social sciences schools in Tennessee. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,006, while out-of-state students pay about $14,766. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,530 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Austin Peay State University generally make around $44,360. That is a strong return on a $24,530 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.

2

Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

$67,498 In-State Tuition & Fees

$11,000 Avg Student Debt

$91,565 Median Earnings (10yr)

Vanderbilt University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general social sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $11,000. General Social Sciences graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $61,389 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.

View All General Social Sciences Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, 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 1 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.