2026 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Tennessee
[Curriculum & Instruction](/majors/education/curriculum-instruction/curriculum-and-instruction/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong curriculum & instruction education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for curriculum & instruction students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the curriculum & instruction degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools
Tennessee State University earned the #1 spot for value among curriculum & instruction schools in Tennessee. Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $8,616 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,416. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $29,489. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Tennessee State University generally make around $45,060. That is a strong return on a $29,489 median debt. Tennessee State University admits about 70% of applicants.
Middle Tennessee State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in curriculum & instruction, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Students borrow a median of $22,754 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $52,200 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,754 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Memphis one of the best values for curriculum & instruction. 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. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $26,315. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $64,245 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,315 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Tennessee Technological University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Located in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,376, with out-of-state students paying around $15,576. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $17,580. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $47,918. Set against $17,580 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Austin Peay State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Located in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,006, while out-of-state students pay about $14,766. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $24,530. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $52,403. That is a strong return on a $24,530 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
East Tennessee State University came in at #6 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. In-state tuition and fees average $10,216, compared with $13,726 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $21,301. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of $45,444 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Lincoln Memorial University landed the #7 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. Set in the town of Harrogate, Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,938. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $20,693 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $53,137. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lincoln Memorial University admits about 63% of applicants.
Carson Newman College came in at #8 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Located in the suburb of Jefferson City, Carson Newman College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,700 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $22,843. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Carson Newman College generally make around $48,797. That is a strong return on a $22,843 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Lipscomb University placed #9 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $40,572 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $23,529. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $51,922. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
