Each ranking compares bachelor's programs in one field. A college's value score is the weighted average of four percentiles among the ranked colleges: graduate earnings, average net price, debt compared with earnings, and graduation rate. Percentiles here are 100 for the best figure in the field. How the rankings work
Civil engineering Ranked #44 of 181 for value Civil Engineering · 37 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $91,615
Ranked-college median: $85,627 Median debt $17,748
Ranked-college median: $20,500 Value score 64.4 of 100 · #1 of 4 in Tennessee
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 78th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 63th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 75th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 17th percentile
Average net price $15,026 (median $17,058) · graduation rate 55.8% · debt is 19% of earnings
Best colleges for civil engineering
Political science Ranked #123 of 388 for value Political Science and Government · 44 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $63,654
Ranked-college median: $63,181 Median debt $15,000
Ranked-college median: $19,500 Value score 57.7 of 100 · #4 of 11 in Tennessee
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 54th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 68th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 79th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 23th percentile
Average net price $15,026 (median $18,238) · graduation rate 55.8% · debt is 24% of earnings
Best colleges for political science
Mechanical engineering Ranked #162 of 276 for value Mechanical Engineering · 39 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $89,407
Ranked-college median: $91,366 Median debt $19,531
Ranked-college median: $20,713 Value score 44.3 of 100 · #4 of 6 in Tennessee
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 34th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 65th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 57th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 22th percentile
Average net price $15,026 (median $17,379) · graduation rate 55.8% · debt is 22% of earnings
Best colleges for mechanical engineering
Electrical engineering Ranked #178 of 184 for value Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · 22 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $86,537
Ranked-college median: $99,787 Median debt $25,250
Ranked-college median: $20,732 Value score 18.5 of 100 · #3 of 3 in Tennessee
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 2th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 57th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 1th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 22th percentile
Average net price $15,026 (median $16,125) · graduation rate 55.8% · debt is 29% of earnings
Best colleges for electrical engineering
Engineering Ranked #188 of 327 for value Mechanical Engineering · 39 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $89,407
Ranked-college median: $91,742 Median debt $19,531
Ranked-college median: $21,000 Value score 45 of 100 · #4 of 7 in Tennessee
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 35th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 64th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 57th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 24th percentile
Average net price $15,026 (median $17,499) · graduation rate 55.8% · debt is 22% of earnings
Best colleges for engineering
Criminal justice Ranked #198 of 379 for value Criminal Justice and Corrections · 99 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $53,565
Ranked-college median: $55,481 Median debt $20,500
Ranked-college median: $21,500 Value score 49.8 of 100 · #5 of 9 in Tennessee
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 40th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 59th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 47th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 65th percentile
Average net price $15,026 (median $16,222) · graduation rate 55.8% · debt is 38% of earnings
Best colleges for criminal justice
Education Ranked #268 of 521 for value Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods · 148 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $46,029
Ranked-college median: $48,822 Median debt $18,969
Ranked-college median: $21,500 Value score 48.9 of 100 · #4 of 11 in Tennessee
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 32th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 64th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 63th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 49th percentile
Average net price $15,026 (median $17,201) · graduation rate 55.8% · debt is 41% of earnings
Best colleges for education
Kinesiology and exercise science Ranked #268 of 459 for value Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness · 196 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $48,413
Ranked-college median: $53,707 Median debt $17,422
Ranked-college median: $21,500 Value score 46.5 of 100 · #9 of 18 in Tennessee
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 21th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 70th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 65th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 51th percentile
Average net price $15,026 (median $18,314) · graduation rate 55.8% · debt is 36% of earnings
Best colleges for kinesiology and exercise science
Business Ranked #282 of 986 for value Business Administration, Management and Operations · 144 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $66,554
Ranked-college median: $64,860 Median debt $19,062
Ranked-college median: $21,375 Value score 61.2 of 100 · #5 of 27 in Tennessee
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 57th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 69th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 67th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 54th percentile
Average net price $15,026 (median $19,132) · graduation rate 55.8% · debt is 29% of earnings
Best colleges for business
Communications Ranked #304 of 388 for value Communication and Media Studies · 111 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $48,212
Ranked-college median: $56,130 Median debt $20,198
Ranked-college median: $19,593 Value score 34 of 100 · #3 of 7 in Tennessee
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 18th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 62th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 26th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 40th percentile
Average net price $15,026 (median $17,285) · graduation rate 55.8% · debt is 42% of earnings
Ranked just above: Stephen F Austin State University (#303) Ranked just below: Washburn University (#305) Best colleges for communications
Computer science Ranked #320 of 466 for value Computer Science · 81 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $82,644
Ranked-college median: $97,375 Median debt $17,625
Ranked-college median: $19,500 Value score 38.7 of 100 · #6 of 10 in Tennessee
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 22th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 62th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 44th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 38th percentile
Average net price $15,026 (median $16,804) · graduation rate 55.8% · debt is 21% of earnings
Ranked just above: Indian River State College (#319) Ranked just below: Miami Dade College (#321) Best colleges for computer science
Nursing Ranked #384 of 686 for value Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · 96 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $77,838
Ranked-college median: $85,171 Median debt $14,500
Ranked-college median: $20,938 Value score 47 of 100 · #2 of 21 in Tennessee
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 17th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 66th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 79th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 53th percentile
Average net price $15,026 (median $18,014) · graduation rate 55.8% · debt is 19% of earnings
Best colleges for nursing
Psychology Ranked #487 of 814 for value Psychology, General · 241 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $44,700
Ranked-college median: $51,007 Median debt $16,344
Ranked-college median: $21,000 Value score 44.6 of 100 · #6 of 20 in Tennessee
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 18th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 70th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 67th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 44th percentile
Average net price $15,026 (median $18,874) · graduation rate 55.8% · debt is 37% of earnings
Best colleges for psychology
Biology Ranked #491 of 680 for value Biology, General · 92 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $50,597
Ranked-college median: $58,001 Median debt $19,500
Ranked-college median: $20,717 Value score 38.5 of 100 · #11 of 14 in Tennessee
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 20th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 68th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 39th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 39th percentile
Average net price $15,026 (median $18,049) · graduation rate 55.8% · debt is 39% of earnings
Best colleges for biology 
