Best Political Science Colleges in Tennessee2026 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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| # | 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 | Lincoln Memorial UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 59% | 54% | $19,591 | $54,326 | 9:1 | 35 | 1,487 |
| 6 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvillePublic | Strong· 36 | 46% | 74% | $18,820 | $29,728 | 18:1 | 99 | 28,763 |
| 7 | Lee UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 72% | 61% | $16,890 | $35,892 | 12:1 | 58 | 2,712 |
| 8 | Le Moyne-Owen CollegePrivate | Strong· 36 | 97% | 25% | $9,198 | — | 9:1 | 25 | 571 |
| 9 | Milligan UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 70% | 60% | $20,830 | $39,739 | 9:1 | 36 | 783 |
| 10 | Lipscomb UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 67% | 69% | $23,820 | $45,943 | 13:1 | 75 | 3,021 |
| 11 | Middle Tennessee State UniversityPublic | Strong· 34 | 68% | 54% | $12,840 | $31,012 | 17:1 | 72 | 16,115 |
| 12 | The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaPublic | Strong· 34 | 77% | 53% | $12,478 | $39,490 | 17:1 | 47 | 9,878 |
| 13 | Maryville CollegePrivate | Strong· 34 | 66% | 47% | $19,434 | $32,423 | 12:1 | 46 | 1,028 |
| 14 | Carson-Newman UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 68% | 46% | $17,326 | $42,215 | 12:1 | 64 | 1,374 |
| 15 | Tennessee Technological UniversityPublic | Good· 33 | 83% | 54% | $14,405 | $34,105 | 16:1 | 41 | 8,495 |
| 16 | Tennessee State UniversityPublic | Good· 33 | 93% | 33% | $11,079 | $35,206 | 13:1 | 34 | 6,498 |
| 17 | Freed-Hardeman UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 91% | 68% | $19,533 | $39,905 | 13:1 | 39 | 1,244 |
| 18 | King UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 54% | 46% | $21,500 | $43,075 | 12:1 | 42 | 975 |
| 19 | The University of Tennessee-MartinPublic | Good· 32 | 87% | 55% | $12,457 | $38,328 | 15:1 | 39 | 4,600 |
| 20 | Belmont UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 96% | 72% | $27,345 | $37,296 | 12:1 | 65 | 7,306 |
| 21 | Fisk UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 58% | 44% | $27,075 | $28,698 | 11:1 | 20 | 950 |
| 22 | Trevecca Nazarene UniversityPrivate | Good· 31 | 70% | 55% | $12,303 | $43,262 | 22:1 | 51 | 1,697 |
| 23 | Austin Peay State UniversityPublic | Good· 31 | 96% | 45% | $16,365 | $34,635 | 15:1 | 40 | 7,365 |
| 24 | University of MemphisPublic | Good· 30 | 93% | 49% | $15,357 | $27,600 | 17:1 | 50 | 13,645 |
| 25 | Southern Adventist UniversityPrivate | Good· 30 | 67% | 51% | $23,907 | $45,366 | 16:1 | 83 | 2,673 |
| 26 | East Tennessee State UniversityPublic | 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 |