Best colleges for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
Lee University, Middle Tennessee State University and Tennessee State University are the top bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Tennessee by graduate earnings. Lee University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,678, College Scorecard. Middle Tennessee State University, University of Memphis and East Tennessee State University award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Tennessee: 122, 94 and 79 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 45 Tennessee colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences and award 8,881 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
Top 8 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lee University Cleveland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,678 | 51 | 63% | $18,918 | $28,979 |
| 2 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,074 | 122 | 54% | — | $29,723 |
| 3 | Tennessee State University Nashville Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,716 | 24 | 34% | — | $38,562 |
| 4 | University of Memphis Memphis Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,158 | 94 | 51% | — | $38,972 |
| 5 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,678 | 62 | 58% | — | $21,000 |
| 6 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,474 | 79 | 53% | — | $25,000 |
| 7 | Union University Jackson Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,320 | 18 | 66% | $25,882 | $20,000 |
| 8 | Belmont University Nashville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,245 | 19 | 71% | $29,246 | $29,438 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public · Associate degree | $30,708 | 861 | 40% | — | $17,500 |
| 2 | Motlow State Community College Tullahoma Public · Associate degree | $26,915 | 750 | 34% | — | $5,500 |
| 3 | Pellissippi State Community College Knoxville Public · Associate degree | $26,757 | 900 | 31% | — | $8,750 |
| 4 | Dyersburg State Community College Dyersburg Public · Associate degree | $26,735 | 476 | 34% | — | $7,722 |
| 5 | Columbia State Community College Columbia Public · Associate degree | $26,438 | 549 | 30% | — | $8,517 |
| 6 | Roane State Community College Harriman Public · Associate degree | $25,289 | 449 | 36% | — | $8,721 |
| 7 | Walters State Community College Morristown Public · Associate degree | $24,893 | 660 | 33% | — | $5,500 |
| 8 | Northeast State Community College Blountville Public · Associate degree | $24,152 | 492 | 33% | — | $6,000 |
| 9 | Cumberland University Lebanon Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $22,849 | 141 | 46% | $19,206 | $10,050 |
| 10 | Cleveland State Community College Cleveland Public · Associate degree | $18,249 | 324 | 37% | — | $10,625 |
Colleges awarding the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Tennessee
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public | 122 | $45,074 |
| 2 | University of Memphis Memphis Public | 94 | $37,158 |
| 3 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public | 79 | $32,474 |
| 4 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Public | 62 | $33,678 |
| 5 | Lee University Cleveland Private not-for-profit | 51 | $45,678 |
| 6 | Carson-Newman University Jefferson City Private not-for-profit | 30 | Not reported |
| 7 | Fisk University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 25 | Not reported |
| 8 | Tennessee State University Nashville Public | 24 | $37,716 |
| 9 | Bethel University McKenzie Private not-for-profit | 23 | Not reported |
| 10 | The University of Tennessee Southern Pulaski Public | 20 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 35 Tennessee colleges offering Liberal Arts and Sciences
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pellissippi State Community College | Knoxville | Public | 900 |
| Austin Peay State University | Clarksville | Public | 861 |
| Motlow State Community College | Tullahoma | Public | 750 |
| Walters State Community College | Morristown | Public | 660 |
| Nashville State Community College | Nashville | Public | 628 |
| Volunteer State Community College | Gallatin | Public | 572 |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College | Memphis | Public | 557 |
| Columbia State Community College | Columbia | Public | 549 |
| Northeast State Community College | Blountville | Public | 492 |
| Dyersburg State Community College | Dyersburg | Public | 476 |
| Chattanooga State Community College | Chattanooga | Public | 467 |
| Roane State Community College | Harriman | Public | 449 |
| Jackson State Community College | Jackson | Public | 391 |
| Cleveland State Community College | Cleveland | Public | 324 |
| Cumberland University | Lebanon | Private not-for-profit | 141 |
| Belmont University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Tusculum University | Greeneville | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Union University | Jackson | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Freed-Hardeman University | Henderson | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | Chattanooga | Public | 12 |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Bryan College - Dayton | Dayton | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Rhodes College | Memphis | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Welch College | Gallatin | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Herzing University - Nashville | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| American Baptist College | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Christian Brothers University | Memphis | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Johnson University | Knoxville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| King University | Bristol | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Le Moyne-Owen College | Memphis | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Milligan University | Milligan | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other (SOC 25-1199).
What Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees?+
Middle Tennessee State University (122 graduates a year), University of Memphis (94 graduates a year) and East Tennessee State University (79 graduates a year) award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 45 Tennessee colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences.
What is the best college for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Tennessee?+
By graduate earnings, Lee University leads among bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Tennessee, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,678, College Scorecard. Middle Tennessee State University and Tennessee State University follow. By degrees awarded, Middle Tennessee State University is the largest, with 122 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Liberal Arts and Sciences program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Lee University tops the list at $45,678. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Tennessee?+
The average annual wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in Tennessee is $83,690 (median $76,480), across about 2,410 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program?+
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
What is the job outlook for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about +1.8% growth with around 13,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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