2027 Best Social Sciences Schools in Tennessee
Social Sciences degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for social sciences students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Social Sciences in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall social sciences education in Tennessee.
Top Schools in Social Sciences
Vanderbilt University tops our 2027 ranking of the best social sciences schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 634 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $72,756. Students borrow a median of $11,990 to complete this degree.
See the full social sciences program report for Vanderbilt University
Students looking for a strong social sciences program will find one at Belmont University, which ranked #2. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Belmont University graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 40 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Belmont University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $49,699. Typical student debt for the program is $23,447.
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The University Of Tennessee is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. The University Of Tennessee awarded about 427 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from The University Of Tennessee earn around $30,421 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,099.
See the full social sciences program report for The University Of Tennessee
Rhodes College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Memphis, Rhodes College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 112 social sciences degrees were awarded at Rhodes College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Rhodes College generally make around $45,006. Students borrow a median of $22,331 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #5 makes The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga one of the top schools for social sciences. This large public university is located in the city of Chattanooga. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates 50% of students within six years. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga awarded about 89 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $39,490 in their early career. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates carry a median of $22,313 in student loans.
Read more about the social sciences program at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga
King College landed the #6 spot for social sciences this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bristol. About 49% of students finish within six years. King College awarded about 10 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from King College earn around $49,297 in the first couple years of their career. King College graduates carry a median of $25,579 in student loans.
Get the full social sciences details for King College
Sewanee The University Of The South came in at #7 for social sciences this year. Set in the rural area of Sewanee, Sewanee The University Of The South is a small private not-for-profit institution. Sewanee The University Of The South graduates 80% of students within six years. Sewanee The University Of The South awarded about 109 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Sewanee The University Of The South earn a median of $51,276 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,580 to complete this degree.
See the full social sciences program report for Sewanee The University Of The South
Tennessee Technological University earned the #8 position for social sciences this year. 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. There were roughly 69 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Tennessee Technological University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $34,842 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,057.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Tennessee Technological University
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #9 spot for social sciences this year. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 127 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $28,004. Students borrow a median of $22,208 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Tennessee Martin placed #10 among the best social sciences schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Martin. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Tennessee Martin awarded about 21 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $40,400 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,770 to complete this degree.
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East Tennessee State University landed the #11 spot for social sciences this year. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. East Tennessee State University graduates 53% of students within six years. East Tennessee State University awarded about 68 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from East Tennessee State University generally make around $32,220. Students borrow a median of $21,186 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social sciences program at East Tennessee State University
Austin Peay State University landed the #12 spot for social sciences this year. Located in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public university. Roughly 39% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 113 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Austin Peay State University in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Austin Peay State University earn a median of $33,849 early in their careers. Austin Peay State University graduates carry a median of $26,232 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for Austin Peay State University
University Of Memphis landed the #13 spot for social sciences this year. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Memphis awarded about 112 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $28,709. Students borrow a median of $23,405 to complete this degree.
See the full social sciences program report for University Of Memphis
Tennessee State University placed #14 among the best social sciences schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 35% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 39 social sciences degrees were awarded at Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Tennessee State University earn around $35,184 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,098.
Read more about the social sciences program at Tennessee State University
Lane College landed the #15 spot for social sciences this year. Set in the city of Jackson, Lane College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Lane College graduates 18% of students within six years. About 12 social sciences degrees were awarded at Lane College in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $23,591 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $40,472.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Lane College
More Social Sciences Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 15 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.
