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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best General Education Schools in Tennessee

8 Colleges in the United States
492 General Education Degrees Awarded
$46,500 Avg Early-Career Salary

General Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 33 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best general education schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for General Education in Tennessee

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general education education in Tennessee.

Top Schools in General Education

1
Vanderbilt University crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

No school ranked higher than Vanderbilt University this year for general education. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 15 general education degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $77,997 in their early career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. See the full general education program report for Vanderbilt University

2
Milligan College crest
Milligan College
Milligan, TN

Students looking for a strong general education program will find one at Milligan College, which ranked #2. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Milligan. Milligan College graduates 63% of students within six years. Milligan College awarded about 19 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Milligan College earn around $64,327 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,150. More information about a degree in general education from Milligan College

3

A rank of #3 makes Motlow State Community College one of the top schools for general education. Motlow State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Tullahoma. Motlow State Community College awarded about 29 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Motlow State Community College generally make around $43,750. Students borrow a median of $6,470 to complete this degree. Get the full general education details for Motlow State Community College

4

The University Of Tennessee came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 79 general education degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent year. General Education graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $72,937 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,859. More information about a degree in general education from The University Of Tennessee

5

A rank of #5 makes Bryan College Dayton one of the top schools for general education. Set in the town of Dayton, Bryan College Dayton is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bryan College Dayton awarded about 21 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Bryan College Dayton generally make around $44,067. Typical student debt for the program is $25,652. Read more about the general education program at Bryan College Dayton

6

Roane State Community College placed #6 among the best general education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Harriman. About 20 general education degrees were awarded at Roane State Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Roane State Community College generally make around $36,933. Students borrow a median of $9,408 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general education from Roane State Community College

7

Cumberland University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lebanon. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cumberland University awarded about 20 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $50,607 in their early career. Cumberland University graduates carry a median of $21,902 in student loans. See the full general education program report for Cumberland University

8

Columbia State Community College landed the #8 spot for general education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Columbia. About 24 general education degrees were awarded at Columbia State Community College in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Columbia State Community College earn a median of $44,481 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,674 to complete this degree. See the full general education program report for Columbia State Community College

9

Volunteer State Community College placed #9 among the best general education schools. Set in the suburb of Gallatin, Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Volunteer State Community College awarded about 22 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Volunteer State Community College earn a median of $40,137 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,462 to complete this degree. Read more about the general education program at Volunteer State Community College

10
Union University crest
Union University
Jackson, TN

Union University came in at #10 for general education this year. Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jackson. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 general education students who graduated with this degree at Union University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $48,394 in their early career. Union University graduates carry a median of $28,605 in student loans. Read more about the general education program at Union University

11

Austin Peay State University placed #11 among the best general education schools. This large public university is located in the city of Clarksville. Roughly 39% of students complete a degree within six years here. Austin Peay State University awarded about 40 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Austin Peay State University earn around $48,419 in the first couple years of their career. Austin Peay State University graduates carry a median of $24,530 in student loans. See the full general education program report for Austin Peay State University

12

Pellissippi State Community College placed #12 among the best general education schools. Set in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 31 general education students who graduated with this degree at Pellissippi State Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Pellissippi State Community College earn around $43,816 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,951. Get the full general education details for Pellissippi State Community College

13

Nashville State Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Nashville State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Nashville. There were roughly 41 general education students who graduated with this degree at Nashville State Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Nashville State Community College earn around $41,456 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,745. More information about a degree in general education from Nashville State Community College

14

Chattanooga State Community College landed the #14 spot for general education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chattanooga. Chattanooga State Community College awarded about 12 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Chattanooga State Community College generally make around $37,252. Typical student debt for the program is $12,079. Get the full general education details for Chattanooga State Community College

15

Northeast State Community College earned the #15 position for general education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Blountville. About 10 general education degrees were awarded at Northeast State Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Northeast State Community College generally make around $39,673. Northeast State Community College graduates carry a median of $6,404 in student loans. See the full general education program report for Northeast State Community College

16

Walters State Community College landed the #16 spot for general education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Morristown. There were roughly 18 general education students who graduated with this degree at Walters State Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Walters State Community College generally make around $12,280. Walters State Community College graduates carry a median of $10,210 in student loans. Read more about the general education program at Walters State Community College

17
Tusculum College crest
Tusculum College
Greeneville, TN

Tusculum College landed the #17 spot for general education this year. Tusculum College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Greeneville. Tusculum College graduates 26% of students within six years. There were roughly 56 general education students who graduated with this degree at Tusculum College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Tusculum College earn around $40,527 in the first couple years of their career. Tusculum College graduates carry a median of $25,832 in student loans. More information about a degree in general education from Tusculum College

18

Bethel University Tennessee ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Set in the town of McKenzie, Bethel University Tennessee is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 17% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 general education students who graduated with this degree at Bethel University Tennessee in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $49,949 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,583 to complete this degree. Read more about the general education program at Bethel University Tennessee

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 33 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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