2026 Best Value Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools in Tennessee
[Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools.
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2026 Best Value Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the clinical, counseling & applied psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools
Middle Tennessee State University tops our 2026 list of the best value clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools in Tennessee. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,375 in student loans. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $35,159. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Students looking for strong value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology will find it at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,448, with out-of-state students paying around $18,512. Students borrow a median of $23,324 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn a median of $50,000 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,324 median debt. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Memphis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in clinical, counseling & applied psychology, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,728, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,315 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $85,214. That is a strong return on a $26,315 median debt. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Trevecca Nazarene University earned it the #4 place for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $31,300 in tuition and fees. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,962 in student loans. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Trevecca Nazarene University earn a median of $41,545 early in their careers. Set against $24,962 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Students looking for strong value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology will find it at Austin Peay State University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,006, with out-of-state students paying around $14,766. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,530 in student loans. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $57,354. Set against $24,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee earned the #6 position for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology 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, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $22,859 in student loans. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $47,265. Set against $22,859 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University placed #7 among the best values for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Freed Hardeman University came in at #8 for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Set in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,620. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $24,479. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $54,530. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Adventist University placed #9 among the best values for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Located in the suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $27,300 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,498 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $44,970. Set against $25,498 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
