2027 Best Accounting Schools in Tennessee
Accounting degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools to find the best for accounting students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Accounting in Tennessee
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the accounting degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Accounting
Vanderbilt University tops our 2027 ranking of the best accounting schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 37 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $77,802 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975.
See the full accounting program report for Vanderbilt University
Students looking for a strong accounting program will find one at The University Of Tennessee, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 260 accounting students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from The University Of Tennessee earn around $61,638 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Tennessee graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans.
Read more about the accounting program at The University Of Tennessee
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best accounting schools. Set in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 77 accounting degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga in the most recent year. Students who receive their accounting degree from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn around $50,000 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,324 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in accounting from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga
Middle Tennessee State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best accounting schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Murfreesboro. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 105 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Middle Tennessee State University earn around $61,029 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,553.
More information about a degree in accounting from Middle Tennessee State University
A rank of #5 makes Lipscomb University one of the top schools for accounting. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 42 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Lipscomb University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $66,833 in their early career. Lipscomb University graduates carry a median of $23,732 in student loans.
More information about a degree in accounting from Lipscomb University
Tennessee Technological University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best accounting schools. Tennessee Technological University is a large public school located in the town of Cookeville. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 44 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Tennessee Technological University in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of Tennessee Technological University earn a median of $41,530 early in their careers. Tennessee Technological University graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans.
See the full accounting program report for Tennessee Technological University
Rhodes College placed #7 among the best accounting schools. Located in the city of Memphis, Rhodes College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rhodes College awarded about 10 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $40,807 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,078 to complete this degree.
Get the full accounting details for Rhodes College
Union University earned the #8 position for accounting this year. Located in the city of Jackson, Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. There were roughly 18 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Union University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $68,508 in their early career. Union University graduates carry a median of $28,605 in student loans.
Get the full accounting details for Union University
The University Of Tennessee Martin landed the #9 spot for accounting this year. Located in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 33 accounting degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee Martin in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee Martin generally make around $48,101. Typical student debt for the program is $20,875.
Get the full accounting details for The University Of Tennessee Martin
Freed Hardeman University came in at #10 for accounting this year. Set in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Freed Hardeman University awarded about 24 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $54,530 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,479.
See the full accounting program report for Freed Hardeman University
East Tennessee State University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best accounting schools. This large public university is located in the city of Johnson City. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 71 accounting degrees were awarded at East Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Accounting graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of $51,297 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,250.
Get the full accounting details for East Tennessee State University
South College landed the #12 spot for accounting this year. This very large private for-profit university is located in the city of Knoxville. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 accounting degrees were awarded at South College in the most recent year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $51,389 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,533 to complete this degree.
See the full accounting program report for South College
Lee University came in at #13 for accounting this year. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Lee University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $53,577 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,750.
Get the full accounting details for Lee University
Cumberland University placed #14 among the best accounting schools. Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lebanon. Cumberland University graduates 42% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Cumberland University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Cumberland University generally make around $47,696. Typical student debt for the program is $21,902.
See the full accounting program report for Cumberland University
University Of Memphis placed #15 among the best accounting schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Memphis. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. University Of Memphis awarded about 115 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from University Of Memphis earn around $59,002 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,975.
Get the full accounting details for University Of Memphis
Pellissippi State Community College landed the #16 spot for accounting this year. Pellissippi State Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Knoxville. About 31 accounting degrees were awarded at Pellissippi State Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $43,816 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,951 to complete this degree.
See the full accounting program report for Pellissippi State Community College
Maryville College came in at #17 for accounting this year. Maryville College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Maryville. Maryville College graduates 50% of students within six years. About 13 accounting degrees were awarded at Maryville College in the most recent year. Accounting graduates of Maryville College earn a median of $42,971 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,428.
Read more about the accounting program at Maryville College
Austin Peay State University placed #18 among the best accounting schools. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. About 39% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 34 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Austin Peay State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Austin Peay State University earn around $37,566 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,588 to complete this degree.
Read more about the accounting program at Austin Peay State University
Nashville State Community College placed #19 among the best accounting schools. This large public university is located in the city of Nashville. There were roughly 32 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Nashville State Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $41,456 in their early career. Nashville State Community College graduates carry a median of $16,745 in student loans.
Get the full accounting details for Nashville State Community College
Tennessee State University landed the #20 spot for accounting this year. Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Nashville. About 35% of students finish within six years. About 15 accounting degrees were awarded at Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Tennessee State University earn around $53,620 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,250.
Get the full accounting details for Tennessee State University
Southern Adventist University earned the #21 position for accounting this year. Set in the suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Southern Adventist University graduates 55% of students within six years. About 15 accounting degrees were awarded at Southern Adventist University in the most recent year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Southern Adventist University earn around $61,366 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,498.
See the full accounting program report for Southern Adventist University
Strayer University Tennessee ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best accounting schools. Strayer University Tennessee is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. There were roughly 24 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Strayer University Tennessee in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of Strayer University Tennessee earn a median of $56,778 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $54,989.
See the full accounting program report for Strayer University Tennessee
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 22 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
