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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Liberal Arts Schools in Tennessee

21 Colleges in the United States
7,519 Liberal Arts Degrees Awarded
$32,359 Avg Early-Career Salary

Liberal Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their liberal arts programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 29 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for liberal arts students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Liberal Arts in Tennessee

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

Top Schools in Liberal Arts

1

Middle Tennessee State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. Middle Tennessee State University awarded about 17 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $50,322. Typical student debt for the program is $29,723. See the full liberal arts program report for Middle Tennessee State University

2

Volunteer State Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the suburb of Gallatin, Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 601 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Volunteer State Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Volunteer State Community College generally make around $26,355. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete this degree. Get the full liberal arts details for Volunteer State Community College

3
Belmont University crest
Belmont University
Nashville, TN

Belmont University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts, ranking #3. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Belmont University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $41,245 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,438. Read more about the liberal arts program at Belmont University

4

A rank of #4 makes Motlow State Community College one of the top schools for liberal arts. Located in the rural area of Tullahoma, Motlow State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Motlow State Community College awarded about 801 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Motlow State Community College earn a median of $26,915 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the liberal arts program at Motlow State Community College

5

Northeast State Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts, ranking #5. Located in the rural area of Blountville, Northeast State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 470 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Northeast State Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Northeast State Community College generally make around $24,152. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the liberal arts program at Northeast State Community College

6
Carson Newman College crest
Carson Newman College
Jefferson City, TN

Carson Newman College earned the #6 position for liberal arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Jefferson City. Carson Newman College graduates 52% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Carson Newman College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Carson Newman College earn a median of $48,797 early in their careers. Carson Newman College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Read more about the liberal arts program at Carson Newman College

7

East Tennessee State University placed #7 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. East Tennessee State University graduates 53% of students within six years. There were roughly 77 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at East Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $32,474 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. Read more about the liberal arts program at East Tennessee State University

8

Pellissippi State Community College placed #8 among the best liberal arts schools. Pellissippi State Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Knoxville. There were roughly 834 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Pellissippi State Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $26,757 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,750. More information about a degree in liberal arts from Pellissippi State Community College

9

Austin Peay State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public university. About 39% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 94 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Austin Peay State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Austin Peay State University earn around $39,947 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,314. Get the full liberal arts details for Austin Peay State University

10

Columbia State Community College landed the #10 spot for liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Columbia, Columbia State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Columbia State Community College awarded about 615 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Columbia State Community College earn around $26,438 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,517. Read more about the liberal arts program at Columbia State Community College

11

University Of Memphis ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Memphis. About 51% of students finish within six years. About 66 liberal arts degrees were awarded at University Of Memphis in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $46,132 early in their careers. University Of Memphis graduates carry a median of $38,972 in student loans. See the full liberal arts program report for University Of Memphis

12

Walters State Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Morristown. There were roughly 594 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Walters State Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Walters State Community College earn a median of $24,893 early in their careers. Walters State Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. See the full liberal arts program report for Walters State Community College

13

Nashville State Community College earned the #13 position for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Nashville State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Nashville State Community College awarded about 495 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Nashville State Community College generally make around $29,280. Students borrow a median of $13,309 to complete this degree. Get the full liberal arts details for Nashville State Community College

14

Tennessee State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 35% of students finish within six years. About 10 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $37,716 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $38,562 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in liberal arts from Tennessee State University

15

Jackson State Community College earned the #15 position for liberal arts this year. Jackson State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Jackson. There were roughly 305 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Jackson State Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $27,378 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree. Get the full liberal arts details for Jackson State Community College

16

Southwest Tennessee Community College placed #16 among the best liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Memphis, Southwest Tennessee Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 473 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Southwest Tennessee Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Southwest Tennessee Community College generally make around $28,980. Southwest Tennessee Community College graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans. See the full liberal arts program report for Southwest Tennessee Community College

17

Chattanooga State Community College placed #17 among the best liberal arts schools. Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chattanooga. There were roughly 466 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Chattanooga State Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $25,797 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,704. See the full liberal arts program report for Chattanooga State Community College

18

Dyersburg State Community College came in at #18 for liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Dyersburg, Dyersburg State Community College is a mid-sized public university. Dyersburg State Community College awarded about 428 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Dyersburg State Community College earn around $26,735 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,722 to complete this degree. See the full liberal arts program report for Dyersburg State Community College

19
Lee University crest
Lee University
Cleveland, TN

Lee University landed the #19 spot for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 43 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Lee University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $45,678 in their early career. Lee University graduates carry a median of $28,979 in student loans. See the full liberal arts program report for Lee University

20

Roane State Community College placed #20 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the town of Harriman, Roane State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Roane State Community College awarded about 465 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Roane State Community College earn around $25,289 in the first couple years of their career. Roane State Community College graduates carry a median of $8,721 in student loans. Get the full liberal arts details for Roane State Community College

21

Cleveland State Community College earned the #21 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 637 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Cleveland State Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Cleveland State Community College generally make around $18,249. Typical student debt for the program is $10,625. Read more about the liberal arts program at Cleveland State Community College

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 29 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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