2026 Best Value Public Health Schools in Tennessee
[Public Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value public health schools.
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2026 Best Value Public Health Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public health, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Health Schools
Roane State Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value public health schools in Tennessee. Roane State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Harriman. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,998, while out-of-state students pay about $18,630. Students borrow a median of $9,408 to complete the public health program here. Public Health graduates of Roane State Community College earn a median of $36,933 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Tennessee State University earned it the #2 place for public health. Located in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,616, while out-of-state students pay about $22,416. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $29,489. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Tennessee State University generally make around $45,060. Set against $29,489 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public health, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,448, with out-of-state students paying around $18,512. Public Health graduates carry a median of $23,324 in student loans. Early-career public health graduates make about $50,000. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Middle Tennessee State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public health, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $27,758. Public Health graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $30,321 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,758 median debt. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
University Of Memphis came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value public health 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, compared with $15,384 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $26,315. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $52,391. That is a strong return on a $26,315 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
East Tennessee State University landed the #6 spot for public health value 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, compared with $13,726 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,299 to complete the public health program here. Public Health graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of $46,940 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,299 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The University Of Tennessee landed the #7 spot for public health value this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,812 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Students borrow a median of $22,859 to complete the public health program here. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $49,826. Set against $22,859 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Vanderbilt University came in at #8 for value in public health this year. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the public health program here. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
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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 7 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.
