2026 Best Value Non-Professional General Legal Studies Schools in Tennessee

[Non-Professional General Legal Studies](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/general-legal-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong non-professional general legal studies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for non-professional general legal studies students.
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2026 Best Value Non-Professional General Legal Studies Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in non-professional general legal studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Non-Professional General Legal Studies Schools
Leading the list is Vanderbilt University, our #1 best value for non-professional general legal studies in Tennessee. 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 non-professional general legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
A rank of #2 makes Lipscomb University one of the best values for non-professional general legal studies. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,572. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Lipscomb University earn a median of $32,967 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Belmont University earned it the #3 place for non-professional general legal studies. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,540 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $23,447. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $49,699. That is a strong return on a $23,447 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.