2027 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Tennessee
[Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong social sciences education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find the best return on investment for social sciences students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in social sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Social Sciences Schools
Leading the list is Austin Peay State University, our #1 best value for social sciences 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. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $26,232. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $33,849. That is a strong return on a $26,232 median debt. Austin Peay State University admits about 96% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee Martin came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value social sciences schools. Located in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,560 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,600 for out-of-state students. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,770 in student loans. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee Martin generally make around $40,400. Set against $23,770 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Tennessee Martin admits about 88% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value social sciences schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $11,990 to complete the social sciences program here. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $72,756. That is a strong return on a $11,990 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
A rank of #4 makes The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga one of the best values for social sciences. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,448, while out-of-state students pay about $18,512. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $22,313. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga generally make around $39,490. That is a strong return on a $22,313 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in social sciences will find it at University Of Memphis, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,728, compared with $15,384 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,405 to complete the social sciences program here. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $28,709. That is a strong return on a $23,405 median debt. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
Tennessee Technological University placed #6 among the best values for social sciences. Located in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,376, while out-of-state students pay about $15,576. Students borrow a median of $16,057 to complete the social sciences program here. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $34,842. Set against $16,057 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Middle Tennessee State University came in at #7 for value in social sciences this year. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $22,208 in student loans. Social Sciences graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $28,004 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
Lane College came in at #8 for value in social sciences this year. Located in the city of Jackson, Lane College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,790. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $40,472. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Lane College generally make around $23,591. That is a strong return on a $40,472 median debt.
Tennessee State University earned the #9 position for value in social sciences this year. Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $8,616 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,416. Students borrow a median of $31,098 to complete the social sciences program here. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Tennessee State University generally make around $35,184. Set against $31,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Tennessee State University admits about 70% of applicants.
East Tennessee State University earned the #10 position for value in social sciences this year. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,216, while out-of-state students pay about $13,726. Students borrow a median of $21,186 to complete the social sciences program here. Social Sciences graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of $32,220 early in their careers. Set against $21,186 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. East Tennessee State University admits about 86% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee came in at #11 for value in social sciences this year. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,099 in student loans. Social Sciences graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $30,421 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,099 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
King College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value social sciences schools. King College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bristol. Students from in state pay about $20,397 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,579 to complete the social sciences program here. Social Sciences graduates of King College earn a median of $49,297 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,579 median debt. King College admits about 100% of applicants.
Sewanee The University Of The South earned the #13 position for value in social sciences this year. Sewanee The University Of The South is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Sewanee. In-state tuition and fees average $56,120. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,580 in student loans. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $51,276. Set against $24,580 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Sewanee The University Of The South admits about 57% of applicants.
Rhodes College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value social sciences 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. Students borrow a median of $22,331 to complete the social sciences program here. Social Sciences graduates of Rhodes College earn a median of $45,006 early in their careers. Set against $22,331 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Belmont University placed #15 among the best values for social sciences. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,540. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $23,447. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $49,699. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
More Social Sciences Rankings
View All Social Sciences Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
