2026 Best Value General English Literature Schools in Tennessee
[General English Literature](/majors/english-language-literature/general-english-language-literature/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 35 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general english literature students.
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2026 Best Value General English Literature Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general english literature degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General English Literature Schools
Middle Tennessee State University tops our 2026 list of the best value general english literature schools in Tennessee. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Typical student debt for general english literature graduates is $24,045. General English Literature graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $31,554 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga one of the best values for general english literature. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public school located in the city of Chattanooga. In-state tuition and fees average $10,448, with out-of-state students paying around $18,512. Typical student debt for general english literature graduates is $22,796. Soon after graduation, general english literature degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga generally make around $22,999. Set against $22,796 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Memphis came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general english literature schools. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. Typical student debt for general english literature graduates is $23,708. Soon after graduation, general english literature degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $25,948. Set against $23,708 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Tennessee Technological University earned it the #4 place for general english literature. Set in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,376, while out-of-state students pay about $15,576. General English Literature graduates carry a median of $19,039 in student loans. General English Literature graduates of Tennessee Technological University earn a median of $46,981 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,039 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Austin Peay State University earned it the #5 place for general english literature. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,006 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,766. Students borrow a median of $25,677 to complete the general english literature program here. Early-career general english literature graduates make about $37,486. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Austin Peay State University admits about 96% of applicants.
East Tennessee State University came in at #6 for value in general english literature this year. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,216, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. Students borrow a median of $16,598 to complete the general english literature program here. Soon after graduation, general english literature degree recipients from East Tennessee State University generally make around $21,836. Set against $16,598 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The University Of Tennessee landed the #7 spot for general english literature value this year. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. Students from in state pay about $13,812 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. General English Literature graduates carry a median of $22,990 in student loans. Early-career general english literature graduates make about $26,476. Set against $22,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University landed the #8 spot for general english literature value this year. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Typical student debt for general english literature graduates is $13,420. Early-career general english literature graduates make about $34,633. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Freed Hardeman University came in at #9 for value in general english literature this year. Set in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $25,620. Students borrow a median of $24,479 to complete the general english literature program here. General English Literature graduates of Freed Hardeman University earn a median of $54,530 early in their careers. Set against $24,479 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Rhodes College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value general english literature schools. Set in the city of Memphis, Rhodes College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $57,110 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general english literature graduates is $21,545. General English Literature graduates of Rhodes College earn a median of $40,807 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,545 median debt. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Lipscomb University placed #11 among the best values for general english literature. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,572. Typical student debt for general english literature graduates is $23,529. Early-career general english literature graduates make about $48,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Belmont University earned the #12 position for value in general english literature this year. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,540. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete the general english literature program here. Early-career general english literature graduates make about $22,360. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
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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 · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
