Best value colleges for Political Science in Tennessee.2026 Rankings
Choosing the right Political Science program in Tennessee means weighing more than just name recognition. We analyzed 28 colleges across the state, scoring each on the metrics that matter most to long-term career success: graduation rates, post-graduation earnings, net cost, and academic rigor.
The data tells an interesting story: Vanderbilt University leads on selectivity (6% acceptance rate), but selectivity is only one dimension of quality. Across Tennessee's Political Science programs, the typical in-state price is $26,516 and the average graduation rate is 56%. Graduates of these programs earn a median of $33,515 within one year of completing their degree.
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ranked by value score
| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | Elite· 51 | 6% | 93% | $6,211 | $46,843 | 7:1 | 51 | 7,143 |
| 2 | Rhodes CollegePrivate | Excellent· 45 | 50% | 82% | $16,317 | $35,537 | 11:1 | 33 | 1,931 |
| 3 | The University of the SouthPrivate | Excellent· 44 | 51% | 82% | $18,421 | $31,831 | 9:1 | 33 | 1,598 |
| 4 | Union UniversityPrivate | Great· 38 | 47% | 71% | $25,531 | $53,098 | 8:1 | 60 | 1,637 |
| 5 | Le Moyne-Owen CollegePrivate | Strong· 36 | 97% | 25% | $9,198 | — | 9:1 | 25 | 571 |
| 6 | Lee UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 72% | 61% | $16,890 | $35,892 | 12:1 | 58 | 2,712 |
| 7 | Lincoln Memorial UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 59% | 54% | $19,591 | $54,326 | 9:1 | 35 | 1,487 |
| 8 | Strong· 36 | 46% | 74% | $18,820 | $29,728 | 18:1 | 99 | 28,763 | |
| 9 | Lipscomb UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 67% | 69% | $23,820 | $45,943 | 13:1 | 75 | 3,021 |
| 10 | Milligan UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 70% | 60% | $20,830 | $39,739 | 9:1 | 36 | 783 |
| 11 | Maryville CollegePrivate | Strong· 34 | 66% | 47% | $19,434 | $32,423 | 12:1 | 46 | 1,028 |
| 12 | Strong· 34 | 68% | 54% | $12,840 | $31,012 | 17:1 | 72 | 16,115 | |
| 13 | Strong· 34 | 77% | 53% | $12,478 | $39,490 | 17:1 | 47 | 9,878 | |
| 14 | Carson-Newman UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 68% | 46% | $17,326 | $42,215 | 12:1 | 64 | 1,374 |
| 15 | Freed-Hardeman UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 91% | 68% | $19,533 | $39,905 | 13:1 | 39 | 1,244 |
| 16 | King UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 54% | 46% | $21,500 | $43,075 | 12:1 | 42 | 975 |
| 17 | Good· 33 | 93% | 33% | $11,079 | $35,206 | 13:1 | 34 | 6,498 | |
| 18 | Good· 33 | 83% | 54% | $14,405 | $34,105 | 16:1 | 41 | 8,495 | |
| 19 | Belmont UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 96% | 72% | $27,345 | $37,296 | 12:1 | 65 | 7,306 |
| 20 | Fisk UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 58% | 44% | $27,075 | $28,698 | 11:1 | 20 | 950 |
| 21 | Good· 32 | 87% | 55% | $12,457 | $38,328 | 15:1 | 39 | 4,600 | |
| 22 | Good· 31 | 96% | 45% | $16,365 | $34,635 | 15:1 | 40 | 7,365 | |
| 23 | Trevecca Nazarene UniversityPrivate | Good· 31 | 70% | 55% | $12,303 | $43,262 | 22:1 | 51 | 1,697 |
| 24 | Good· 30 | 67% | 51% | $23,907 | $45,366 | 16:1 | 83 | 2,673 | |
| 25 | University of MemphisPublic | Good· 30 | 93% | 49% | $15,357 | $27,600 | 17:1 | 50 | 13,645 |
| 26 | Average· 29 | 87% | 50% | $16,944 | $37,594 | 18:1 | 51 | 9,807 | |
| 27 | Tusculum UniversityPrivate | Average· 29 | 60% | 31% | $21,842 | $39,705 | 18:1 | 24 | 903 |
| 28 | Bryan College-DaytonPrivate | Average· 26 | — | 56% | $15,443 | $38,617 | 13:1 | 32 | 815 |