Best Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Degrees in Tennessee by ROI
Colleges in Tennessee ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in Tennessee
10
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$310,571
Across Tennessee programs
Average Annual Cost
$32,395
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Tennessee State University
Grad rate: 32.7% |
+$34,829 | $51,110 | $23,828 | $38,562 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Middle Tennessee State University
Grad rate: 54.3% |
-$223,182 | $37,398 | $22,754 | $29,723 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Austin Peay State University
Grad rate: 43.9% |
-$247,162 | $36,831 | $26,790 | $27,128 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Belmont University
Grad rate: 72.1% |
-$249,241 | $43,621 | $60,480 | $29,438 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Tennessee Technological University
Grad rate: 57.0% |
-$294,262 | $33,772 | $25,338 | $21,000 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
University of Memphis
Grad rate: 48.8% |
-$307,688 | $34,279 | $25,164 | $38,972 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Union University
Grad rate: 68.8% |
-$357,640 | $35,276 | $55,790 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
East Tennessee State University
Grad rate: 52.4% |
-$389,738 | $29,390 | $25,947 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Lee University
Grad rate: 61.8% |
-$472,537 | $27,189 | $34,299 | $28,979 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Grad rate: 52.7% |
-$599,092 | $16,758 | $23,563 | N/A | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Degrees by State
Browse Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.