2026 Best Economics Schools in Tennessee
Economics degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their economics programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools to find the best for economics students.
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Best Schools for Economics in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall economics education in Tennessee.
Top Schools in Economics
Vanderbilt University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in economics. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 262 economics students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $84,311 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,424 to complete this degree.
See the full economics program report for Vanderbilt University
Rhodes College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in economics, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Memphis, Rhodes College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 18 economics degrees were awarded at Rhodes College in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from Rhodes College earn around $57,814 in the first couple years of their career. Rhodes College graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong economics program will find one at The University Of Tennessee, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Knoxville. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. The University Of Tennessee awarded about 42 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $46,302 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,650.
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Sewanee The University Of The South is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in economics, landing the #4 spot this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Sewanee. Sewanee The University Of The South graduates 80% of students within six years. About 50 economics degrees were awarded at Sewanee The University Of The South in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from Sewanee The University Of The South earn around $58,532 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,798.
Get the full economics details for Sewanee The University Of The South
A rank of #5 makes Middle Tennessee State University one of the top schools for economics. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. Middle Tennessee State University graduates 54% of students within six years. Middle Tennessee State University awarded about 46 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $43,575. Typical student debt for the program is $22,754.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 17 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.
