2027 Best Value Educational Administration Schools in Tennessee
[Educational Administration](/majors/education/educational-administration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value educational administration schools.
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2027 Best Value Educational Administration Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in educational administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Educational Administration Schools
Our analysis ranked Austin Peay State University the best value for a degree in educational administration in Tennessee. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,006, with out-of-state students paying around $14,766. Students borrow a median of $24,530 to complete the educational administration program here. Educational Administration graduates of Austin Peay State University earn a median of $55,045 early in their careers. Set against $24,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Austin Peay State University admits about 96% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee Martin came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value educational administration schools. Set in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,560 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,600. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $23,770. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee Martin generally make around $40,400. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Tennessee Martin admits about 88% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Memphis earned it the #3 place for educational administration. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,728, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $26,315. Educational Administration graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $74,676 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,315 median debt. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
Middle Tennessee State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value educational administration schools. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,266 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $22,754. Educational Administration graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $56,415 early in their careers. Set against $22,754 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Tennessee Technological University one of the best values for educational administration. Located in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,376, with out-of-state students paying around $15,576. Students borrow a median of $17,580 to complete the educational administration program here. Educational Administration graduates of Tennessee Technological University earn a median of $64,036 early in their careers. Set against $17,580 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earned the #6 position for value in educational administration this year. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,448, with out-of-state students paying around $18,512. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $23,324 in student loans. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $50,000. That is a strong return on a $23,324 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Vanderbilt University earned the #7 position for value in educational administration this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $13,975. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $78,283. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
Tennessee State University came in at #8 for value in educational administration this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,616, compared with $22,416 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $29,489. Educational Administration graduates of Tennessee State University earn a median of $45,060 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
East Tennessee State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value educational administration schools. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,216, while out-of-state students pay about $13,726. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $21,301 in student loans. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $62,532. That is a strong return on a $21,301 median debt. East Tennessee State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Trevecca Nazarene University came in at #10 for value in educational administration this year. Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,300. Students borrow a median of $24,962 to complete the educational administration program here. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $67,303. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
South College came in at #11 for value in educational administration this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, South College is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,535. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $24,533. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from South College generally make around $51,389. Set against $24,533 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Tennessee earned the #12 position for value in educational administration this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $22,859 in student loans. Educational Administration graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $49,826 early in their careers. Set against $22,859 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Carson Newman College placed #13 among the best values for educational administration. Carson Newman College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Jefferson City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,700. Students borrow a median of $22,843 to complete the educational administration program here. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from Carson Newman College generally make around $63,728. Set against $22,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Carson Newman College admits about 90% of applicants.
Lincoln Memorial University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value educational administration schools. Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Harrogate. In-state tuition and fees average $26,938. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $20,693. Educational Administration graduates of Lincoln Memorial University earn a median of $57,547 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Milligan College placed #15 among the best values for educational administration. Milligan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Milligan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,450. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $26,150 in student loans. Educational Administration graduates of Milligan College earn a median of $64,327 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,150 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Freed Hardeman University earned the #16 position for value in educational administration this year. Located in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $25,620 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $24,479. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from Freed Hardeman University generally make around $54,530. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Lipscomb University placed #17 among the best values for educational administration. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,572. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $23,529. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $60,024. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lipscomb University admits about 68% of applicants.
Union University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value educational administration schools. Located in the city of Jackson, Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,398. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $28,605. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $64,839. Set against $28,605 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Union University admits about 60% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
