Cheapest Civil Engineering Colleges in Tennessee

Tennessee State University offers Civil Engineering at just $10,026 net cost, while Vanderbilt commands $19,040 despite its 92.7% graduation rate. The $15,584 spread between cheapest and most expensive reflects both public funding advantages and private school premium pricing. Tennessee's automotive manufacturing sector, anchored by Nissan and General Motors plants, creates steady demand for infrastructure engineers who design the transportation networks supporting these major employers.

Programs

$10,026 – $25,610

Net Price Range

$58,536

Avg. Program Earnings

60.1%

Avg. Graduation Rate

8 Civil Engineering Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Tennessee State University Nashville, Tennessee	$10,026	$8,568	33.0%
2	Christian Brothers University Memphis, Tennessee	$10,896	$37,300	56.0%	87.5%
3	The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga, Tennessee	$12,817	$10,144	53.1%	82.7%
4	University of Memphis Memphis, Tennessee	$13,253	$10,344	49.4%	94.6%
5	Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, Tennessee	$14,207	$10,084	54.2%	78.1%
6	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, Tennessee	$18,109	$13,484	73.5%	68.4%
7	Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tennessee	$19,040	$63,946	92.7%	6.7%
8	Lipscomb University Nashville, Tennessee	$25,610	$38,824	68.7%	71.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the massive tuition difference between Tennessee State and Vanderbilt for Civil Engineering?

Tennessee State charges $8,568 in-state tuition as a public institution, while Vanderbilt's private status drives tuition to $63,946. However, Vanderbilt's generous financial aid reduces the actual net cost to $19,040, narrowing the gap significantly.

How do graduation rates vary among Tennessee's most affordable Civil Engineering programs?

Graduation rates span from 33% at Tennessee State to 92.7% at Vanderbilt, with most public options falling between 49-73%. Tennessee Tech achieves a solid 54.2% graduation rate at just $14,207 net cost, offering strong value for completion likelihood.

Do Tennessee Civil Engineering graduates earn enough to justify student debt loads?

Earnings range from $53,202 to $64,913 across programs, with debt levels varying dramatically from $18,000 at UT-Chattanooga to $27,750 at Memphis. The earning-to-debt ratios generally favor the lower-cost public options for financial return.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.