With all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a college degree. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Associate Degree Colleges in Tennessee ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
After analyzing 26 schools in Tennessee, we came up with our list of those that offered the best associate degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
Early-Career Salaries Are Higher
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a associate degree from the school. While associate degree recipients from schools in Tennessee earn an average starting salary of $33,342, those from the top 19 school on this list made an average of $35,650.
Starting Salary ( 27027 to 42131 )
Average Student Debt
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that students take on while pursuing their associate degree.
During their time at college, associate degree seekers from schools in Tennessee take out an average of $21,173.
The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Associate Degree Schools ranking.
Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
If you'd rather work on your associate degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our rankings by place. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.
Our 2024 rankings named Southern Adventist University the best school in Tennessee in terms of overall quality for students working on their associate degree. Collegedale, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 142 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Southern Adventist is $51,554 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $21,250 in student loans.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Christian Brothers University. The school came in at #2 in Tennessee on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. Christian Brothers University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Memphis, Tennessee that handed out 7 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
A rank of #3 on our Best Associate Degree in Tennessee list means Tennessee State University is a great place for students working on their degree. This medium-sized public school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 43 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Tennessee State University is $50,394 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $20,000 after getting their degree.
A rank of #4 on our Best Associate Degree in Tennessee list means Lincoln Memorial University is a great place for students working on their degree. Harrogate, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 193 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from LMU is $36,407 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $17,323 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $86.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Union University. The school came in at #5 in Tennessee on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. Union is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Jackson, Tennessee. It awarded 53 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Jackson State Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. JSCC is located in Jackson, Tennessee and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 557 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from JSCC is $41,623 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $7,895.
Austin Peay State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #8. Austin Peay State University is a public institution located in Clarksville, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,301 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Austin Peay State University go into careers with an average salary of $21,476 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $16,000.
Trevecca Nazarene University landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. TNU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Nashville, Tennessee. It awarded 46 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Chattanooga State Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Chattanooga State Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It awarded 1,147 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Chattanooga State Community College make an average of $35,110 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $16,061 after getting their degree.
Bethel University landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Bethel is a private not-for-profit institution located in McKenzie, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 98 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $18,750.
Southwest Tennessee Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #12. Southwest Tennessee Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Memphis, Tennessee that handed out 963 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Southwest is $36,205 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $13,386.
Cumberland University landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Lebanon, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 228 students in 2020-2021.
Associate students leave the school with an average of $10,694 in student loans.
With a ranking of #14, Roane State Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Roane State Community College is a public institution located in Harriman, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 940 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Roane State Community College is $35,208 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $11,449 after getting their degree.
Columbia State Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. This small public school is located in Columbia, Tennessee, and it awarded 915 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Columbia State Community College go into careers with an average salary of $34,544 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $14,148 after getting their degree.
Dyersburg State Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #16. DSCC is located in Dyersburg, Tennessee and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 370 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a associate degree from DSCC go into careers with an average salary of $41,344 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $10,348 after getting their degree.
Pellissippi State Community College landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,608 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Pellissippi State Community College make an average of $31,307 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $10,424 in student loans.
Volunteer State Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #18. VSCC is a medium-sized public school situated in Gallatin, Tennessee. It awarded 1,250 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from VSCC make an average of $34,579 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $11,996 in student loans.
Motlow State Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Located in Tullahoma, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,113 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Motlow go into careers with an average salary of $42,022 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $5,725 after getting their degree.
Nashville State Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #20. Nashville State Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Nashville, Tennessee that handed out 1,028 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $34,207 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $20,965 in student loans.
Northeast State Community College landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Located in Blountville, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school awarded 899 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $34,107 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $6,512.
Cleveland State Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #22. Cleveland, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 453 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Cleveland State Community College is $33,292 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $14,260 after getting their degree.
Walters State Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #23. Walters State Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Morristown, Tennessee that handed out 945 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from WSCC is $33,002 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $6,785.
Daymar College - Clarksville did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #24. Daymar College - Clarksville is located in Clarksville, Tennessee and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 76 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $25,198 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $27,188.
Remington College - Memphis Campus came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Remington College - Memphis Campus is located in Memphis, Tennessee and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 81 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Remington College - Memphis Campus is $25,761 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $21,310 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $85 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
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%.
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