2026 Best Value Civil Engineering Schools in Tennessee
[Civil Engineering](/majors/engineering/civil-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for civil engineering students.
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2026 Best Value Civil Engineering Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in civil engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Civil Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga the best value for a degree in civil engineering in Tennessee. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,448, compared with $18,512 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,747 to complete the civil engineering program here. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga generally make around $65,419. That is a strong return on a $20,747 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Tennessee State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in civil engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,616, while out-of-state students pay about $22,416. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $29,489. Civil Engineering graduates of Tennessee State University earn a median of $45,060 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,489 median debt. Tennessee State University admits about 70% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Memphis one of the best values for civil engineering. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,728, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $64,780 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Students looking for strong value in civil engineering will find it at Tennessee Technological University, which ranked #4. Tennessee Technological University is a large public school located in the town of Cookeville. Students from in state pay about $11,376 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,576 for out-of-state students. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,870 in student loans. Civil Engineering graduates of Tennessee Technological University earn a median of $63,577 early in their careers. Set against $20,870 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
The University Of Tennessee is a great value for students pursuing a degree in civil engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,812 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,450 in student loans. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $67,818. That is a strong return on a $21,450 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University earned the #6 position for value in civil engineering this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $13,975. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
