2027 Best Value Operations Management Schools in Tennessee

[Operations Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-administration-and-management/operations-management/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value operations management schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Operations Management Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in operations management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Operations Management Schools
For return on investment in operations management, no school beat Pellissippi State Community College this year. Pellissippi State Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Knoxville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,786, while out-of-state students pay about $17,770. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $8,540 in student loans. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Pellissippi State Community College generally make around $32,529. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chattanooga State Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value operations management schools. Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chattanooga. Students from in state pay about $4,772 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,756 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,162 to complete the operations management program here. Operations Management graduates of Chattanooga State Community College earn a median of $37,252 early in their careers. Set against $15,162 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in operations management will find it at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the operations management program here. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in operations management will find it at Lipscomb University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,572. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $27,250 in student loans. Early-career operations management graduates make about $60,440. Set against $27,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
More Operations Management Rankings
View All Operations Management Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- 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.