2023 Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in Tennessee
A student has lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. 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. Also there are many trade schools and bootcamps that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in Tennessee to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 45 schools in Tennessee to see which master's degree programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
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Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in Tennessee
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named The University of Tennessee - Knoxville the most popular school in Tennessee for students working on their master’s degree. Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, the large public school awarded 1,570 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
UT Knoxville does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 36% took at least some of their classes online.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Vanderbilt University is a great place for students working on their master’s degree. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 1,554 students in 2020-2021.
Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Vanderbilt. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 67% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Memphis. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. UofM is a public institution located in Memphis, Tennessee. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,062 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at UofM. In 2019-2020 about 58% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll be in good company if you attend East Tennessee State University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. East Tennessee State University is a fairly large public school located in Johnson City, Tennessee that handed out 684 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 71% were women.
Online graduate courses are available at ETSU, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 49% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
The excellent master’s degree programs at Middle Tennessee State University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular schools in Tennessee. Located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, the large public school handed out 678 master’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that Middle Tennessee State University does offer online graduate classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 57% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Lipscomb University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #6 on the list. Lipscomb is located in Nashville, Tennessee and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 545 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
Online graduate courses are available at Lipscomb, 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 31% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Trevecca Nazarene University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. TNU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 506 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at TNU. In 2019-2020 about 66% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Austin Peay State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #8 on the list. Austin Peay State University is a medium-sized public school located in Clarksville, Tennessee that handed out 493 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that Austin Peay State University does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 85% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Lincoln Memorial University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #9 on the list. Lincoln Memorial University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Harrogate, Tennessee that handed out 468 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 69% were women.
LMU does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 13% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #10, The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the fairly large public school handed out 394 master’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
UT Chattanooga does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 60% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Tennessee Technological University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Tennessee Tech University is a public institution located in Cookeville, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 391 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that Tennessee Tech University does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 80% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Union University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #12 on the list. Union is a private not-for-profit institution located in Jackson, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 323 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 73% of those degree recipients were women.
Union does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 70% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #13, Tennessee State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 303 students in 2020-2021.
Around 71% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Tennessee State University. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 41% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #14, Belmont University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 280 master’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Belmont. During the 2019-2020 year, about 37% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Carson - Newman University landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. Carson - Newman University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Jefferson City, Tennessee that handed out 252 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Carson - Newman. During the 2019-2020 year, about 85% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #16, The University of Tennessee - Health Science Center did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. This small public school is located in Memphis, Tennessee, and it awarded 235 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 78% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at UTHSC. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 73% took at least some of their classes online.
Read full report on The University of Tennessee - Health Science Center
The University of Tennessee - Martin ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. UT Martin is a public institution located in Martin, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 231 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 69% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UT Martin. During the 2019-2020 year, about 95% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Bethel University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in McKenzie, Tennessee, and it awarded 216 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that Bethel does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 82% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Tusculum University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #19 on the list. Tusculum is a private not-for-profit institution located in Greeneville, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 213 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
Tusculum does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 71% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Lee University ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Lee University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cleveland, Tennessee. It awarded 184 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Lee University. During the 2019-2020 year, about 25% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
King University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #21 on the list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Bristol, Tennessee, and it awarded 189 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
King does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 84% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
South College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. This medium-sized private for-profit school is located in Knoxville, Tennessee, and it awarded 173 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 70% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at South College. In 2019-2020 about 30% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Christian Brothers University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #23 on the list. Christian Brothers University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Memphis, Tennessee that handed out 170 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Christian Brothers. During the 2019-2020 year, about 55% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Cumberland University ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. CU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lebanon, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 157 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
CU does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 15% took at least some of their classes online.
Southern Adventist University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #25 on the list. Southern Adventist University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Collegedale, Tennessee that handed out 150 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 75% were women.
One thing to take note of is that Southern Adventist does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 71% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Most Popular Master'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
- 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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