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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Sustainability Science Schools in Tennessee

2 Colleges in the United States
$19,642 Avg Student Debt
$72,242 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Sustainability Science Badge [Sustainability Science](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/sustainability-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for sustainability science students.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Sustainability Science Schools in Tennessee

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sustainability science, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Sustainability Science Schools

1

Our analysis ranked The University Of Tennessee the best value for a degree in sustainability science in Tennessee. 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, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,859 to complete the sustainability science program here. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $49,826. That is a strong return on a $22,859 median debt. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.

2
Vanderbilt University crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

A rank of #2 makes Vanderbilt University one of the best values for sustainability science. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $13,975. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $77,997. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.

3

A rank of #3 makes Sewanee The University Of The South one of the best values for sustainability science. Sewanee The University Of The South is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Sewanee. In-state tuition and fees average $56,120. Students borrow a median of $22,091 to complete the sustainability science program here. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Sewanee The University Of The South generally make around $36,927. Set against $22,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Sewanee The University Of The South admits about 57% of applicants.

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, 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 2 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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