2023 Best Bachelor's Degree Schools in Tennessee
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Bachelor's Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. This report analyzed 29 schools in Tennessee to see which ones offered the best bachelor's degree programs for students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school us, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Bachelor's Degree Schools in Tennessee
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Vanderbilt University to be the best school for students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Tennessee.
If you want to attend Vanderbilt, expect to pay an average of $56,966 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,392 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Vanderbilt does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 98% took at least some of their classes online.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Sewanee - The University of the South is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $49,418 to cover tuition and fees at Sewanee. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
Sewanee does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 86% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Belmont University is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
If you want to attend Belmont, expect to pay an average of $38,430 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $22,196 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Belmont does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 68% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Out of the 29 schools in Tennessee that were part of this year’s ranking, Bethel University landed the # 4 spot on the list.
The average tuition and fees at Bethel is $13,981. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $33,108 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Bethel. During the 2019-2020 year, about 38% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Out of the 29 schools in Tennessee that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Tennessee - Knoxville landed the # 5 spot on the list.
In-state students pay an average of $13,244 in tuition and fees if they attend UT Knoxville full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $31,664. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $22,232 in loans while pursuing their degree.
UT Knoxville does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 42% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Lipscomb University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #6 on the list.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $35,752 to cover tuition and fees at Lipscomb. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $27,667 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Lipscomb. In 2019-2020 about 52% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #7, Rhodes College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $50,910 to cover tuition and fees at Rhodes College. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
Since Rhodes College is primarily an online school, it is an excellent choice for undergraduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
King University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $32,838 to cover tuition and fees at King. The school does not offer an in-state discount. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,347 in student loans.
King does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 83% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Tennessee Technological University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking.
Full-time students from Tennessee pay an average of $9,802 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Tennessee Tech University. Out-of-state students pay an average of $19,834. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Tennessee Tech University accumulate an average of $19,943 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Tennessee Tech University, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 79% took at least some of their classes online.
The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UT Chattanooga is $9,848. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $25,966. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $25,246 in loans while pursuing their degree.
UT Chattanooga does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 32% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga
Union University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list.
If you want to attend Union, expect to pay an average of $16,520 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $32,879 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Union. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 34% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #12, University of Memphis did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UofM is $10,056. Out-of-state students pay an average of $14,088. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,159 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at UofM. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 53% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Middle Tennessee State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #13 on the list.
Students from Tennessee who attend Middle Tennessee State University full time pay an average of $9,232 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $28,264. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,342 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Middle Tennessee State University. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 55% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #14, Trevecca Nazarene University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
The average tuition and fees at TNU is $26,898. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,746 in student loans.
Online courses are available at TNU, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 54% took at least some of their classes online.
Freed-Hardeman University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking.
On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $22,617 in loans while pursuing their degree.
FHU does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 16% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Tennessee Wesleyan University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking.
The average tuition and fees at TWU is $26,590. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $28,365 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at TWU. In fact, around 5% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
The University of Tennessee - Martin did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #17 on the list.
Full-time students from Tennessee pay an average of $9,912 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend UT Martin. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,952. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,559 in student loans.
Online courses are available at UT Martin, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 87% took at least some of their classes online.
Lee University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #18 on the list.
Lee University does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $20,500. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Lee University accumulate an average of $26,373 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Lee University, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 17% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Christian Brothers University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list.
By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $34,104 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Christian Brothers. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 88% took at least some of their classes online.
Carson - Newman University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #20 on the list.
If you want to attend Carson - Newman, expect to pay an average of $31,320 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $23,992 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Carson - Newman does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 41% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Southern Adventist University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #21 on the list.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $23,210 to cover tuition and fees at Southern Adventist. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Southern Adventist. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 39% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Cumberland University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list.
If you want to attend CU, expect to pay an average of $25,412 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,030 in student loans.
CU does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 0% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Tennessee State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking.
Students from Tennessee who attend Tennessee State University full time pay an average of $8,336 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $21,692. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $31,462 in student loans.
Tennessee State University does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 55% took at least some of their classes online.
Milligan University landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
Milligan does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $36,140. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Milligan accumulate an average of $23,548 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Milligan does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 43% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Maryville College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking.
If you want to attend Maryville College, expect to pay an average of $37,016 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
One thing to take note of is that Maryville College does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 87% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Best Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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