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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Social Sciences Schools in Tennessee

11 Colleges in the United States
2,071 Social Sciences Degrees Awarded
$39,416 Avg Early-Career Salary

Social Sciences is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 36 schools to find the best for social sciences students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Social Sciences in Tennessee

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the social sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Social Sciences

1
Vanderbilt University crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

Leading the list is Vanderbilt University, our #1 school for social sciences. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 683 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $73,246 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,990 to complete this degree. Read more about the social sciences program at Vanderbilt University

2
Belmont University crest
Belmont University
Nashville, TN

Belmont University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social sciences, ranking #2. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Belmont University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $49,699 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,447. More information about a degree in social sciences from Belmont University

3

A rank of #3 makes The University Of Tennessee one of the top schools for social sciences. This very large public university is located in the city of Knoxville. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. The University Of Tennessee awarded about 460 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $31,301 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,099. Get the full social sciences details for The University Of Tennessee

4
Rhodes College crest
Rhodes College
Memphis, TN

Rhodes College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Memphis. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rhodes College awarded about 84 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $43,638 in their early career. Rhodes College graduates carry a median of $22,331 in student loans. More information about a degree in social sciences from Rhodes College

5

Students looking for a strong social sciences program will find one at Sewanee The University Of The South, which ranked #5. Set in the rural area of Sewanee, Sewanee The University Of The South is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Sewanee The University Of The South awarded about 92 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Sewanee The University Of The South earn around $51,056 in the first couple years of their career. Sewanee The University Of The South graduates carry a median of $24,580 in student loans. Get the full social sciences details for Sewanee The University Of The South

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

Carson Newman College came in at #6 for social sciences this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Jefferson City. About 52% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Carson Newman College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Carson Newman College earn around $48,797 in the first couple years of their career. Carson Newman College graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans. See the full social sciences program report for Carson Newman College

7

Tennessee Technological University earned the #7 position for social sciences this year. This large public university is located in the town of Cookeville. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Tennessee Technological University awarded about 76 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Tennessee Technological University earn around $34,830 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,057 to complete this degree. Read more about the social sciences program at Tennessee Technological University

8

The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earned the #8 position for social sciences this year. This large public university is located in the city of Chattanooga. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga awarded about 89 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn around $39,084 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,313 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social sciences from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga

9

Middle Tennessee State University earned the #9 position for social sciences this year. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 220 social sciences degrees were awarded at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $28,074 early in their careers. Middle Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $22,208 in student loans. Get the full social sciences details for Middle Tennessee State University

10

The University Of Tennessee Martin ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Located in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee Martin in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee Martin generally make around $40,400. Students borrow a median of $23,770 to complete this degree. Read more about the social sciences program at The University Of Tennessee Martin

11

East Tennessee State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. About 53% of students finish within six years. East Tennessee State University awarded about 68 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $31,391 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,186 to complete this degree. Get the full social sciences details for East Tennessee State University

12

Austin Peay State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Austin Peay State University is a large public school located in the city of Clarksville. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. About 69 social sciences degrees were awarded at Austin Peay State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Austin Peay State University earn around $33,430 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,232. Read more about the social sciences program at Austin Peay State University

13

University Of Memphis placed #13 among the best social sciences schools. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. About 51% of students finish within six years. About 125 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Memphis in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from University Of Memphis earn around $27,573 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Memphis graduates carry a median of $23,405 in student loans. See the full social sciences program report for University Of Memphis

14

Tennessee State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. About 37 social sciences degrees were awarded at Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $35,128 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,098. Read more about the social sciences program at Tennessee State University

15
Lane College crest
Lane College
Jackson, TN

Lane College placed #15 among the best social sciences schools. Located in the city of Jackson, Lane College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 18%. There were roughly 11 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Lane College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $23,591 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $40,472. Get the full social sciences details for Lane College

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 36 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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