2026 Best Fine Arts Schools in Tennessee
Fine Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for fine arts students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Fine Arts in Tennessee
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the fine arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Fine Arts
No school ranked higher than Tennessee Technological University this year for fine arts. Tennessee Technological University is a large public school located in the town of Cookeville. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 36 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Tennessee Technological University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $19,231 in their early career. Tennessee Technological University graduates carry a median of $13,935 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fine arts from Tennessee Technological University
The University Of Tennessee is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fine arts, landing the #2 spot this year. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 46 fine arts degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $23,661 in their early career. The University Of Tennessee graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full fine arts details for The University Of Tennessee
A rank of #3 makes Cumberland University one of the top schools for fine arts. Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lebanon. About 42% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Cumberland University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from Cumberland University earn around $47,696 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,902.
More information about a degree in fine arts from Cumberland University
A rank of #4 makes Union University one of the top schools for fine arts. Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jackson. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. There were roughly 13 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Union University in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of Union University earn a median of $68,508 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $28,605.
See the full fine arts program report for Union University
Lee University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best fine arts schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Lee University in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of Lee University earn a median of $26,598 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $29,750.
Read more about the fine arts program at Lee University
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 11 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.
