Compare 22 Psychology, General. programs in Tennessee. Average earnings: $38,736.
With top graduates earning $54,652, Psychology, General. stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $16K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Topping the list, Vanderbilt University's program delivers $54,652 in median earnings, followed closely by Rhodes College at $53,414. The average across Tennessee's 22 programs is $38,736, yet this variation reflects program-specific strengths rather than overall institutional rankings.
Highest program earnings: $54,652
Strong outcomes with 96% acceptance
6.0% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
20.5% family burden | Challenging - payment 18-25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $54,652 | 74 | $14,000 | Excellent | $30,844 | Challenging |
| #2 | Rhodes CollegePrivate | $53,414 | 23 | $21,761 | Good | $52,509 | High |
| #3 | Belmont UniversityPrivate | $48,528 | 48 | $20,500 | Good | $72,092 | High |
| #4 | Carson-Newman UniversityPrivate | $47,032 | 10 | $21,500 | Manageable | $17,541 | Challenging |
| #5 | The University Of The SouthPrivate | $45,835 | 41 | $22,855 | Manageable | $56,450 | High |
| #6 | Cumberland UniversityPrivate | $43,079 | 11 | $17,952 | Manageable | $11,116 | Challenging |
| #7 | King UniversityPrivate | $40,527 | 27 | $22,750 | Manageable | $13,363 | High |
| #8 | Freed-Hardeman UniversityPrivate | $40,492 | 25 | $21,500 | Manageable | $19,230 | High |
| #9 | $39,041 | 155 | $19,500 | Manageable | $17,353 | High | |
| #10 | $38,799 | 59 | $27,000 | Challenging | $18,771 | High | |
| #11 | University Of MemphisPublic | $38,074 | 179 | $23,300 | Challenging | $15,393 | High |
| #12 | Trevecca Nazarene UniversityPrivate | $37,019 | 44 | $18,744 | Manageable | $12,000 | High |
| #13 | Lee UniversityPrivate | $36,511 | 69 | $25,750 | High | $24,000 | High |
| #14 | Tusculum UniversityPrivate | $35,851 | 21 | $23,250 | Challenging | $14,951 | High |
| #15 | $35,287 | 221 | $20,000 | Challenging | $14,229 | High | |
| #16 | Lipscomb UniversityPrivate | $35,261 | 32 | $19,500 | Challenging | $30,298 | High |
| #17 | $34,296 | 66 | $15,650 | Challenging | $11,640 | High | |
| #18 | $34,058 | 154 | $19,442 | Challenging | $16,938 | High | |
| #19 | $33,656 | 97 | $20,547 | High | $14,710 | High | |
| #20 | Union UniversityPrivate | $33,342 | 13 | $20,714 | High | $20,000 | High |
| #21 | $31,599 | 26 | $21,024 | High | $13,218 | High | |
| #22 | $26,353 | 21 | $27,000 | High | $20,923 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
