Best Anthropology Schools Near Shelbyville, TN (2026)

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

Shelbyville, Tennessee has 4 accredited schools offering anthropology programs. Shelbyville has a population of about 24,125. Median household income is $52,290 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 11.6% 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 Shelbyville

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer anthropology programs near Shelbyville, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Shelbyville 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 Shelbyville. 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 24.6 miles from Shelbyville
  • 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 36.2 miles from Shelbyville
  • 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 48.9 miles from Shelbyville
  • 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 92.0 miles from Shelbyville
  • 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 145.1 miles from Shelbyville
  • 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

University of Memphis

Memphis, TN 198.3 miles from Shelbyville
  • 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

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#7

Rhodes College

Memphis, TN 200.9 miles from Shelbyville
  • 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

#8

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, TN 235.2 miles from Shelbyville
  • 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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Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Tennessee schools on the Tennessee anthropology page.

Anthropology Wages Near Shelbyville

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.

Shelbyville at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 24,125 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $52,290 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 11.6% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Shelbyville-Area Cities With Anthropology Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited anthropology schools are near Shelbyville, TN?

Our directory has 4 accredited schools offering anthropology programs near Shelbyville. The closest is Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN (24.6 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Lee University (92.0 miles). 3 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 Shelbyville workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Murfreesboro instead of Shelbyville?

Murfreesboro, TN is 24.4 miles from Shelbyville 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 Shelbyville an affordable place to study anthropology?

Shelbyville’s median household income of $52,290 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Shelbyville 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 Shelbyville

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

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)