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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Elementary Education (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee

18 Ranked Colleges
399 Degrees Awarded
$15,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor's in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 40,622 people earned their degree in elementary education, making the major the 19th most popular in the United States.

Across Tennessee, there were 480 elementary education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 399 elementary education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 18 colleges that offer a degree in elementary education. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent elementary education programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the elementary education program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Elementary Education Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Elementary Education (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee

#1

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Vanderbilt University landed the #1 spot on the list. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

Vanderbilt not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $3,156 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Teaching students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Vanderbilt.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Vanderbilt University Elementary Education Report

#2

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Middle Tennessee State University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Murfreesboro, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees to 39 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k list, Middle Tennessee State University has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $8,919 for tennessee bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Middle Tennessee State University.

Read full report on Elementary Education at Middle Tennessee State University

#3

Tennessee Wesleyan University

Athens, Tennessee
#11 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Tennessee Wesleyan University landed the #3 spot on the list. Tennessee Wesleyan University is located in Athens, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees to qualified students.

TWU also took the #11 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend TWU is $10,002 for tennessee bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Elementary Education at TWU

#4

Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, Tennessee
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Tennessee Technological University landed the #4 spot on the list. Cookeville, Tennessee is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees to 125 students in 2019-2020.

Tennessee Tech University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for Tennessee Technological University is $11,641 for tennessee bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Elementary Education at Tennessee Technological University

#5

Lincoln Memorial University

Harrogate, Tennessee
#10 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lincoln Memorial University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k. LMU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Harrogate, Tennessee. It awarded 13 bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k list, LMU has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend LMU is $9,736 for tennessee bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Elementary Education at LMU

#6

Freed-Hardeman University

Henderson, Tennessee
#5 in overall quality

Freed-Hardeman University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Henderson, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 23 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s elementary teaching students in 2019-2020.

FHU also made our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for FHU is $13,512 for tennessee bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full FHU Elementary Education Report

#7

Johnson University

Knoxville, Tennessee
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Johnson University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Johnson University is a small school located in Knoxville, Tennessee that handed out 10 bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees in 2019-2020.

Johnson University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend Johnson University is $13,968 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Johnson University Elementary Education Report

#8

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, Tennessee
#14 in overall quality

Trevecca Nazarene University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. TNU is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees to qualified students.

TNU also took the #14 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $15,228 for tennessee bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend TNU.

Read more about Elementary Education at TNU

#9

Lee University

Cleveland, Tennessee
#9 in overall quality

Lee University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lee University is a medium-sized school located in Cleveland, Tennessee that handed out 27 bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lee University, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lee University is $13,841 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Elementary Education at Lee University

#10

Carson - Newman University

Jefferson City, Tennessee
#13 in overall quality

Carson - Newman University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Jefferson City, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s elementary teaching students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k list, Carson - Newman has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Carson - Newman is $14,686 for tennessee bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Elementary Education at Carson - Newman University

#11

Southern Adventist University

Collegedale, Tennessee
#7 in overall quality

Southern Adventist University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southern Adventist is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Collegedale, Tennessee. It awarded 18 bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees in 2019-2020.

Southern Adventist not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend Southern Adventist University is $19,346 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Southern Adventist University Elementary Education Report

#12

Belmont University

Nashville, Tennessee
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Belmont University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Belmont, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Belmont University is $25,980 for tennessee bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Elementary Education at Belmont University

#13

Lipscomb University

Nashville, Tennessee
#3 in overall quality

Lipscomb University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

Lipscomb did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lipscomb University is $20,036 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Elementary Education at Lipscomb University

#14

Bethel University

McKenzie, Tennessee
#17 in overall quality

Bethel University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in McKenzie, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 5 degrees to qualified bachelors’s elementary teaching students in 2019-2020.

Bethel did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend Bethel University is $14,339 for tennessee bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Elementary Education at Bethel University

#15

South College

Knoxville, Tennessee
#18 in overall quality

South College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, this medium-sized private for-profit school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s elementary teaching students in 2019-2020.

South College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend South College is $16,958 for tennessee bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full South College Elementary Education Report

#16

King University

Bristol, Tennessee
#15 in overall quality

King University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Bristol, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 23 degrees to qualified bachelors’s elementary teaching students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k list, King has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $22,192 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Teaching students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend King University.

Full King Elementary Education Report

#17

Cumberland University

Lebanon, Tennessee
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, Cumberland University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cumberland University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lebanon, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend Cumberland University is $21,979 for tennessee bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Elementary Education at Cumberland University

#18

Union University

Jackson, Tennessee
#8 in overall quality

Union University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Union is a private not-for-profit institution located in Jackson, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Union, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $26,079 for tennessee bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Union University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read more about Elementary Education at Union University

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Vgrigas.

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