Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Tennessee (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 11 four-year colleges in Tennessee that report a Liberal Arts earnings cohort, ordered by the median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. Middle Tennessee State University leads the list at $54,747, followed closely by Tennessee State University at $54,249.
Across the 10 schools with a reported completion median, median earnings range from $54,747 to $34,020, with a median of $48,488.
The list includes 7 public and 4 private nonprofit institutions. Austin Peay State University posts the lowest average net price at $9,735, while Belmont University reports the highest six-year completion rate at 71%.
On Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally, University of Memphis ranks 224th.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Liberal Arts Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Tennessee State University · Murfreesboro, TN | $54,747 | $13,359 | $9,289 | 69.1% |
| Middle Tennessee State University ranks 1st on this list with median earnings of $54,747 for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (93 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($54,747) | |||||
| 2 | Tennessee State University · Nashville, TN | $54,249 | $15,796 | $15,005 | 70.1% |
| A public university in Nashville, Tennessee State University posts a six-year completion rate of 34% and an average net price of $15,796. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (19 graduates) | |||||
| 3 | Lee University · Cleveland, TN | $54,203 | $18,878 | $12,834 | 70.5% |
| Lee University admits 71% of applicants and reports median earnings of $54,203 for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (55 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($54,203) | |||||
| 4 | Belmont University · Nashville, TN | $53,532 | $33,147 | $22,950 | 95.3% |
| Belmont University carries an average net price of $33,147 and graduates 71% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (25 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($53,532) | |||||
| 5 | University of Memphis · Memphis, TN | $48,798 | $12,397 | $10,607 | 72.0% |
| University of Memphis ranks 224th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $48,798 for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (84 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($48,798) | |||||
| 6 | Austin Peay State University · Clarksville, TN | $48,177 | $9,735 | $7,588 | 96.4% |
| With an admission rate of 96%, Austin Peay State University is the most open on the list and shows an average net price of $9,735. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (134 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($48,177) | |||||
| 7 | Tennessee Technological University · Cookeville, TN | $44,846 | $14,246 | $9,815 | 76.1% |
| Tennessee Technological University reports a six-year completion rate of 58% and median earnings of $44,846 for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (14 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($44,846) | |||||
| 8 | East Tennessee State University · Johnson City, TN | $44,738 | $15,983 | $12,433 | 86.2% |
| East Tennessee State University admits 86% of applicants and carries an average net price of $15,983. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (94 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($44,738) | |||||
| 9 | Union University · Jackson, TN | $41,226 | $27,171 | $25,839 | 60.4% |
| Union University is the most selective on the list, admitting 60% of applicants, and reports a six-year completion rate of 66%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (15 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($41,226) | |||||
| 10 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · Chattanooga, TN | $34,020 | $14,265 | $9,876 | 81.1% |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga ranks 393rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows an average net price of $14,265. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (8 graduates) | |||||
| 11 | Cumberland University · Lebanon, TN | $23,264 | $18,759 | $17,882 | 67.3% |
| Cumberland University admits 67% of applicants and graduates 46% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (13 graduates) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing, highest first. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing the program. It does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost of attendance, or the characteristics of the students who enroll, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The figures cited on this page cover the 10 schools with a reported completion median. Median earnings span from $34,020 to $54,747, a spread of $20,727, and the gap between Middle Tennessee State University and Tennessee State University is just $498.