Best Anthropology Schools Near Cookeville, TN (2026)

Updated September 5, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Cookeville, Tennessee has 5 accredited schools offering anthropology programs. Cookeville has a population of about 35,544. Median household income is $48,501 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 35.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Tennessee, the top-earning anthropology-related role is Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary at a median $98,160 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Anthropology Schools to Cookeville

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer anthropology programs near Cookeville, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Cookeville city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Cookeville. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, TN 51.8 miles from Cookeville
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
56.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 56%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,541
Avg net price $13,359/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 79%
  • Programs offered: 106

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

The University of the South

Sewanee, TN 69.1 miles from Cookeville
  • 4 year
63.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 81%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $64,911
Avg net price $27,872/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 89%
  • Programs offered: 37

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN 72.1 miles from Cookeville
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
91.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 93%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $91,565
Avg net price $15,846/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 96%
  • Programs offered: 157

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Lee University

Cleveland, TN 76.8 miles from Cookeville
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
48.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 56%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $43,222
Avg net price $18,878/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 82%
  • Programs offered: 91

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN 89.6 miles from Cookeville
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
74.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 71%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $60,249
Avg net price $18,976/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 91%
  • Programs offered: 143

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, TN 175.6 miles from Cookeville
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
51.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 59%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $44,859
Avg net price $15,983/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 97

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#7

University of Memphis

Memphis, TN 258.5 miles from Cookeville
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
53.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 53%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,458
Avg net price $12,397/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 74%
  • Programs offered: 117

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Rhodes College

Memphis, TN 260.7 miles from Cookeville
  • 4 year
64.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 83%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $66,651
Avg net price $28,585/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 92%
  • Programs offered: 40

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Tennessee schools on the Tennessee anthropology page.

Anthropology Wages Near Cookeville

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Tennessee, statewide)
Anthropologists and Archeologists $60,310
Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary $98,160
Archivists $53,210
Curators $57,580
Museum Technicians and Conservators $44,710
Social Science Research Assistants $46,410
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $69,790

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Cookeville at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 35,544 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $48,501 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 35.4% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Cookeville-Area Cities With Anthropology Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited anthropology schools are near Cookeville, TN?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering anthropology programs near Cookeville. The closest is Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN (51.8 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Western Kentucky University (78.1 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying anthropology roles in Tennessee?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying anthropology-related roles in Tennessee are: Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary ($98,160), Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists ($69,790), Anthropologists and Archeologists ($60,310). Wages for Cookeville workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Lebanon instead of Cookeville?

Lebanon, TN is 46.7 miles from Cookeville and has its own set of local anthropology programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Cookeville an affordable place to study anthropology?

Cookeville’s median household income of $48,501 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Cookeville while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Tennessee public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Anthropology Programs

Other Programs Available in Cookeville

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Cookeville:

Data verified: September 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

Back to Best Anthropology Schools in Tennessee: Online Programs (2026)