2027 Best Value General Physics Schools in Tennessee

[General Physics](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/general-physics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general physics students.
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2027 Best Value General Physics Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general physics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Physics Schools
Vanderbilt University tops our 2027 list of the best value general physics schools in Tennessee. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the general physics program here. Early-career general physics graduates make about $77,997. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Middle Tennessee State University one of the best values for general physics. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,754 to complete the general physics program here. Early-career general physics graduates make about $43,575. Set against $22,754 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general physics, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $25,344. Early-career general physics graduates make about $49,826. Set against $25,344 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general physics will find it at Rhodes College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Memphis, Rhodes College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $57,110 in tuition and fees. General Physics graduates carry a median of $23,078 in student loans. General Physics graduates of Rhodes College earn a median of $40,807 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,078 median debt. Rhodes College admits about 50% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.