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2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k

12 Ranked Colleges
665 Degrees Awarded
$12,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor's in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Political Science & Government is the 21st most popular major in the country with 48,597 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, political science and government graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,977 and had an average of $22,822 in loans still to pay off.

Across Tennessee, there were 693 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,388 and $22,152 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 665 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 12 colleges that offer a degree in political science and government. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great political science and government programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the political science and government program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 12 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government (Income $30-$48k) in Tennessee

#1

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Vanderbilt University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k. Vanderbilt is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Nashville, Tennessee. It awarded 97 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Vanderbilt, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Vanderbilt is $6,017 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Vanderbilt Political Science & Government Report

#2

Rhodes College

Memphis, Tennessee

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rhodes College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k. Rhodes College is located in Memphis, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 bachelors’s political science degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rhodes College, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rhodes College is $16,061 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Rhodes College

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k. Knoxville, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s political science degrees to 164 students in 2019-2020.

UT Knoxville not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is $13,745 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Political Science & Government Report

#4

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Middle Tennessee State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k list. Middle Tennessee State University is a large public school situated in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It awarded 57 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

Middle Tennessee State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $10,637 for tennessee bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Middle Tennessee State University.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Middle Tennessee State University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k. Chattanooga, Tennessee is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s political science degrees to 48 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Chattanooga, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga is $10,515 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at UT Chattanooga

#6

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee

University of Memphis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, this large public school handed out 36 degrees to qualified bachelors’s political science students in 2019-2020.

UofM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Memphis is $12,264 for tennessee bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full University of Memphis Political Science & Government Report

The University of Tennessee - Martin ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Martin, Tennessee, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Martin also made our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $9,855 for tennessee bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend The University of Tennessee - Martin.

Full UT Martin Political Science & Government Report

#8

Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, Tennessee

Tennessee Technological University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k list. Tennessee Technological University is a fairly large public school situated in Cookeville, Tennessee. It awarded 28 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

Tennessee Tech University also made our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for Tennessee Tech University is $13,421 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Tennessee Tech University

#9

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee

East Tennessee State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. East Tennessee State University is a fairly large school located in Johnson City, Tennessee that handed out 35 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ETSU, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for East Tennessee State University is $12,703 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full East Tennessee State University Political Science & Government Report

#10

Tennessee State University

Nashville, Tennessee
#12 in overall quality

Tennessee State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k list. Tennessee State University is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 bachelors’s political science degrees to qualified students.

Tennessee State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend Tennessee State University is $11,711 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Tennessee State University Political Science & Government Report

#11

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, Tennessee

Austin Peay State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Austin Peay State University is a fairly large public school situated in Clarksville, Tennessee. It awarded 32 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

Austin Peay State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for Austin Peay State University is $12,298 for tennessee bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Austin Peay State University

Sewanee - The University of the South did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Sewanee - The University of the South is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sewanee, Tennessee. It awarded 37 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

Sewanee not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for Sewanee - The University of the South is $15,686 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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.

Full Sewanee Political Science & Government Report

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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.

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