2026 Best Value Psychology Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Psychology Schools
Our analysis ranked Middle Tennessee State University the best value for a degree in psychology in Tennessee. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $23,371. Psychology graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $35,497 early in their careers. Set against $23,371 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Students looking for strong value in psychology will find it at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,448, with out-of-state students paying around $18,512. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $21,898. Early-career psychology graduates make about $48,892. Set against $21,898 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Students looking for strong value in psychology will find it at The University Of Tennessee Martin, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,560, compared with $16,600 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,373 to complete the psychology program here. Early-career psychology graduates make about $27,433. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Tennessee Martin admits about 88% of applicants.
Tennessee State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value psychology schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, while out-of-state students pay about $22,416. Psychology graduates carry a median of $27,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Tennessee State University generally make around $45,898. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
University Of Memphis came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value psychology schools. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,728, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Psychology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career psychology graduates make about $83,475. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
Trevecca Nazarene University earned the #6 position for value in psychology this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,300. Psychology graduates carry a median of $21,375 in student loans. Early-career psychology graduates make about $41,518. That is a strong return on a $21,375 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Tennessee Technological University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value psychology schools. Located in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,376, while out-of-state students pay about $15,576. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete the psychology program here. Early-career psychology graduates make about $28,394. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt. Tennessee Technological University admits about 76% of applicants.
Christian Brothers University came in at #8 for value in psychology this year. Set in the city of Memphis, Christian Brothers University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,420. Psychology graduates carry a median of $45,942 in student loans. Early-career psychology graduates make about $38,421. That is a strong return on a $45,942 median debt. Christian Brothers University admits about 87% of applicants.
East Tennessee State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value psychology schools. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. In-state tuition and fees average $10,216, while out-of-state students pay about $13,726. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $17,976. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from East Tennessee State University generally make around $26,403. That is a strong return on a $17,976 median debt. East Tennessee State University admits about 86% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value psychology schools. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,081 in student loans. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $47,265. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
Austin Peay State University placed #11 among the best values for psychology. Located in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,006, while out-of-state students pay about $14,766. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the psychology program here. Psychology graduates of Austin Peay State University earn a median of $56,735 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Bryan College Dayton earned the #12 position for value in psychology this year. Set in the town of Dayton, Bryan College Dayton is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,800. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $23,880. Early-career psychology graduates make about $44,067. Set against $23,880 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lincoln Memorial University placed #13 among the best values for psychology. Located in the town of Harrogate, Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,938. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $20,693. Early-career psychology graduates make about $64,307. Set against $20,693 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lincoln Memorial University admits about 63% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value psychology schools. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Psychology graduates carry a median of $11,209 in student loans. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $36,716. That is a strong return on a $11,209 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Cumberland University landed the #15 spot for psychology value this year. Set in the town of Lebanon, Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $27,840. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $22,437. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Cumberland University generally make around $27,023. Set against $22,437 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cumberland University admits about 67% of applicants.
Carson Newman College came in at #16 for value in psychology this year. Carson Newman College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Jefferson City. Students from in state pay about $34,700 in tuition and fees. Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Carson Newman College generally make around $28,217. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Freed Hardeman University earned the #17 position for value in psychology this year. Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Henderson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,620. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Freed Hardeman University generally make around $54,530. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Freed Hardeman University admits about 60% of applicants.
Johnson University came in at #18 for value in psychology this year. Johnson University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Knoxville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,122. Students borrow a median of $23,819 to complete the psychology program here. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Johnson University generally make around $34,290. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Lee University earned the #19 position for value in psychology this year. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Students from in state pay about $23,790 in tuition and fees. Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,450 in student loans. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Lee University generally make around $38,509. Set against $26,450 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Bethel University Tennessee earned the #20 position for value in psychology this year. Located in the town of McKenzie, Bethel University Tennessee is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,712. Psychology graduates carry a median of $28,583 in student loans. Early-career psychology graduates make about $62,331. Set against $28,583 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bethel University Tennessee admits about 60% of applicants.
King College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value psychology schools. Set in the city of Bristol, King College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $20,397 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $24,875. Psychology graduates of King College earn a median of $28,795 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Tusculum College came in at #22 for value in psychology this year. Set in the town of Greeneville, Tusculum College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $29,250. Psychology graduates carry a median of $28,500 in student loans. Psychology graduates of Tusculum College earn a median of $30,170 early in their careers. Set against $28,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Southern Adventist University landed the #23 spot for psychology value this year. Set in the suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,300. Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,498 in student loans. Psychology graduates of Southern Adventist University earn a median of $44,970 early in their careers. Set against $25,498 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Rhodes College placed #24 among the best values for psychology. Set in the city of Memphis, Rhodes College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,110. Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,589 in student loans. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Rhodes College generally make around $37,563. Set against $24,589 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Lipscomb University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value psychology schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,572. Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,062 in student loans. Psychology graduates of Lipscomb University earn a median of $44,434 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,062 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Rest of the Top 29 Best Value Psychology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s psychology value ranking:
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
[Psychology](/majors/psychology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong psychology education at a price that pays off.
