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Best Value Degrees in Tennessee (2026)

Top 100 of 458 programs in Tennessee · Updated 2026

The best college programs in Tennessee, ranked by overall value. We scored 458 programs across Tennessee schools on earnings, AI resilience, job demand, and tuition ROI. The top programs average $62,043/yr in graduate earnings.

Programs in TN

458

Avg Earnings (Top 100)

$62,043/yr

Avg DW Score

73/100

#1 Program

Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration

Austin Peay State University

Top Programs in Tennessee

Top 100 programs by DegreeWorth Score. Click any row for full analysis.

#	Program	DW Score	Earnings	AI Risk	ROI
1	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Austin Peay State University · Clarksville, TN	84 82–83	$68,235/yr	High	20.3x
2	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration University of Memphis · Memphis, TN	84 81–84	$73,680/yr	High	17.3x
3	Computer Science The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN	84 77–85	$70,193/yr	Very High	17.9x
4	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration The University of Tennessee-Martin · Martin, TN	84 81–83	$71,727/yr	High	17.5x
5	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Tennessee State University · Nashville, TN	84 82–84	$65,331/yr	High	21.8x
6	Computer Science Tennessee Technological University · Cookeville, TN	84 77–85	$63,180/yr	Very High	22.0x
7	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Middle Tennessee State University · Murfreesboro, TN	83 82–83	$65,839/yr	High	19.6x
8	Computer Engineering Tennessee Technological University · Cookeville, TN	83 77–85	$69,291/yr	Very High	25.1x
9	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus · Nashville, TN	83 80–83	$76,234/yr	High	12.6x
10	Computer and Information Sciences, General East Tennessee State University · Johnson City, TN	82 75–83	$52,008/yr	Very High	22.4x
11	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration East Tennessee State University · Johnson City, TN	82 80–81	$64,459/yr	High	17.7x
12	Computer Science Middle Tennessee State University · Murfreesboro, TN	82 75–83	$57,653/yr	Very High	22.3x
13	Construction Management Middle Tennessee State University · Murfreesboro, TN	82 79–83	$71,762/yr	High	22.5x
14	Computer Science The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · Chattanooga, TN	82 75–83	$59,567/yr	Very High	20.8x
15	Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN	82 78–82	$59,501/yr	Very High	15.4x
16	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Baptist Health Sciences University · Memphis, TN	81 78–81	$74,962/yr	High	12.8x
17	Computer Engineering University of Memphis · Memphis, TN	81 75–83	$65,222/yr	Very High	21.9x
18	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · Chattanooga, TN	81 80–81	$65,273/yr	High	16.8x
19	Computer and Information Sciences, General Strayer University-Tennessee · Memphis, TN	81 75–82	$67,315/yr	Very High	14.0x
20	Computer and Information Sciences, General Austin Peay State University · Clarksville, TN	80 74–81	$58,060/yr	Very High	20.1x
21	Computer Science University of Memphis · Memphis, TN	80 72–81	$57,233/yr	Very High	18.3x
22	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN	79 77–78	$65,298/yr	High	12.8x
23	Information Science/Studies Strayer University-Tennessee · Memphis, TN	79 73–80	$71,167/yr	Very High	14.7x
24	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration The University of Tennessee Southern · Pulaski, TN	78 76–78	$67,349/yr	High	14.0x
25	Accounting and Related Services Middle Tennessee State University · Murfreesboro, TN	78 74–79	$51,963/yr	Very High	18.1x
26	Accounting and Related Services The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN	78 75–80	$53,197/yr	Very High	14.8x
27	Accounting and Related Services Tennessee State University · Nashville, TN	78 74–79	$53,620/yr	Very High	18.8x
28	Finance and Financial Management Services The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN	77 74–78	$53,826/yr	Very High	13.6x
29	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Tennessee Technological University · Cookeville, TN	77 76–77	$61,379/yr	High	14.8x
30	Business Administration The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN	76 70–76	$59,147/yr	High	13.6x
31	Electrical Tennessee Technological University · Cookeville, TN	75 71–76	$73,453/yr	Very High	24.8x
32	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Cumberland University · Lebanon, TN	74 72–73	$67,094/yr	High	6.3x
33	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration South College · Knoxville, TN	74 72–73	$65,109/yr	High	8.8x
34	Accounting and Related Services University of Memphis · Memphis, TN	74 71–76	$51,425/yr	Very High	14.8x
35	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Southern Adventist University · Collegedale, TN	74 73–74	$66,005/yr	High	7.1x
36	Electrical The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · Chattanooga, TN	74 70–75	$75,273/yr	Very High	22.2x
37	Accounting and Related Services The University of Tennessee-Martin · Martin, TN	74 71–75	$48,101/yr	Very High	15.7x
38	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Trevecca Nazarene University · Nashville, TN	74 72–73	$69,533/yr	High	5.8x
39	Economics Vanderbilt University · Nashville, TN	74 69–75	$84,311/yr	Very High	4.0x
40	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Strayer University-Tennessee · Memphis, TN	74 71–74	$81,061/yr	High	13.6x
41	Civil Engineering The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · Chattanooga, TN	73 72–74	$65,419/yr	High	21.4x
42	Electrical The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN	73 69–74	$75,316/yr	Very High	17.4x
43	Computer Science Tennessee State University · Nashville, TN	73 66–74	$50,628/yr	Very High	16.9x
44	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration King University · Bristol, TN	72 70–72	$68,012/yr	High	4.8x
45	Electrical University of Memphis · Memphis, TN	72 68–73	$71,137/yr	Very High	19.5x
46	Mechanical Engineering University of Memphis · Memphis, TN	72 70–74	$69,386/yr	Very High	19.9x
47	Finance and Financial Management Services Middle Tennessee State University · Murfreesboro, TN	72 71–73	$46,505/yr	Very High	15.6x
48	Mechanical Engineering The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · Chattanooga, TN	72 69–73	$66,517/yr	Very High	19.9x
49	Computer Science The University of Tennessee-Martin · Martin, TN	72 67–74	$46,710/yr	Very High	16.0x
50	Mechanical Engineering Tennessee Technological University · Cookeville, TN	72 70–73	$66,228/yr	Very High	20.8x
51	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Union University · Jackson, TN	72 70–71	$68,399/yr	High	4.2x
52	Accounting and Related Services Lee University · Cleveland, TN	71 68–73	$53,577/yr	Very High	7.9x
53	Engineering-Related Fields Middle Tennessee State University · Murfreesboro, TN	71 69–71	$67,431/yr	High	20.0x
54	Chemical Engineering The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN	71 68–72	$76,302/yr	High	15.6x
55	Civil Engineering University of Memphis · Memphis, TN	70 69–72	$64,780/yr	High	17.9x
56	Finance and Financial Management Services University of Memphis · Memphis, TN	70 69–71	$44,395/yr	Very High	14.3x
57	Mechanical Engineering The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN	70 68–72	$65,756/yr	Very High	15.8x
58	Civil Engineering Tennessee Technological University · Cookeville, TN	70 68–71	$63,577/yr	High	17.8x
59	Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research Austin Peay State University · Clarksville, TN	69 68–69	$70,028/yr	Moderate	20.7x
60	Mathematics University of Memphis · Memphis, TN	69 64–71	$57,310/yr	Very High	17.1x
61	Chemical Engineering The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · Chattanooga, TN	69 68–71	$57,952/yr	High	21.0x
62	Nuclear Engineering The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN	69 66–70	$73,724/yr	High	16.4x
63	Industrial Engineering The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN	69 67–70	$73,822/yr	High	14.7x
64	Chemical Engineering Tennessee Technological University · Cookeville, TN	69 68–71	$60,300/yr	High	20.4x
65	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Tusculum University · Greeneville, TN	69 68–68	$57,543/yr	High	5.2x
66	Mathematics Vanderbilt University · Nashville, TN	69 64–70	$103,812/yr	Very High	4.5x
67	Business/Commerce, General Strayer University-Tennessee · Memphis, TN	69 64–70	$55,431/yr	High	10.6x
68	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Belmont University · Nashville, TN	68 67–68	$67,072/yr	High	3.4x
69	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Bethel University · McKenzie, TN	68 66–68	$71,315/yr	High	8.8x
70	Civil Engineering The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN	68 67–70	$64,386/yr	High	14.1x
71	Computer Engineering The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN	68 61–69	$74,085/yr	Very High	12.7x
72	Economics The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN	68 65–69	$46,302/yr	Very High	12.4x
73	Finance and Financial Management Services The University of Tennessee-Martin · Martin, TN	68 67–70	$45,325/yr	Very High	13.3x
74	Accounting and Related Services Strayer University-Tennessee · Memphis, TN	68 65–70	$52,373/yr	Very High	9.7x
75	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Lipscomb University · Nashville, TN	67 65–67	$64,954/yr	High	3.4x
76	Accounting and Related Services East Tennessee State University · Johnson City, TN	67 66–69	$44,834/yr	Very High	13.6x
77	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Freed-Hardeman University · Henderson, TN	67 66–67	$64,784/yr	High	5.1x
78	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Lincoln Memorial University · Harrogate, TN	67 66–67	$59,588/yr	High	5.1x
79	Business Administration University of Memphis · Memphis, TN	67 61–68	$47,611/yr	High	13.2x
80	Business Administration Middle Tennessee State University · Murfreesboro, TN	67 61–67	$44,608/yr	High	14.3x
81	Business Administration The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · Chattanooga, TN	67 61–68	$45,308/yr	High	13.7x
82	Finance and Financial Management Services East Tennessee State University · Johnson City, TN	66 68–67	$39,936/yr	Very High	15.2x
83	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Lee University · Cleveland, TN	66 64–65	$67,930/yr	High	6.5x
84	Engineering, General The University of Tennessee-Martin · Martin, TN	66 64–67	$63,746/yr	High	18.0x
85	Allied Health Diagnostic Tennessee State University · Nashville, TN	66 66–66	$48,894/yr	Moderate	17.5x
86	Finance and Financial Management Services Tennessee Technological University · Cookeville, TN	66 68–68	$41,176/yr	Very High	14.4x
87	Finance and Financial Management Services Austin Peay State University · Clarksville, TN	65 63–67	$48,264/yr	Very High	12.9x
88	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Carson-Newman University · Jefferson City, TN	65 65–65	$56,509/yr	High	3.9x
89	Business Administration Lipscomb University · Nashville, TN	65 59–65	$51,379/yr	High	4.3x
90	Engineering-Related Fields The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · Chattanooga, TN	65 63–65	$60,284/yr	High	15.2x
91	Accounting and Related Services Tennessee Technological University · Cookeville, TN	65 66–67	$41,530/yr	Very High	14.1x
92	Computer Science Vanderbilt University · Nashville, TN	65 60–67	$122,244/yr	Very High	3.8x
93	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration The University of Tennessee Health Science Center · Memphis, TN	65 63–65	$70,619/yr	High	—
94	Economics Rhodes College · Memphis, TN	64 60–65	$57,814/yr	Very High	3.1x
95	Business Administration Rhodes College · Memphis, TN	64 58–65	$58,550/yr	High	2.8x
96	Food Science and Technology The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN	64 60–64	$48,441/yr	Moderate	13.7x
97	Business Administration The University of Tennessee-Martin · Martin, TN	64 59–65	$41,279/yr	High	13.4x
98	Business Administration Tennessee Technological University · Cookeville, TN	64 59–64	$38,994/yr	High	14.1x
99	Allied Health Diagnostic Baptist Health Sciences University · Memphis, TN	63 63–63	$57,633/yr	Moderate	10.5x
100	Engineering Technology, General University of Memphis · Memphis, TN	63 61–64	$61,465/yr	High	18.1x

Methodology

This ranking includes the top 100 programs at Tennessee colleges and universities, drawn from 458 total programs with earnings data. Programs are ranked by DegreeWorth Score (0–100), which combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and tuition ROI.

Only in-state tuition is used for ROI calculations. Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best college program in Tennessee?

By DegreeWorth Score, Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Austin Peay State University ranks #1 in Tennessee with a score of 84/100 and graduate earnings of $68,235/yr.

How many college programs are in Tennessee?

Our database includes 458 programs across Tennessee colleges with reported earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education.

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Last updated 2025.