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. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Tennessee Colleges for a Bachelor's ranking - to help you make that decision.
Our analysis looked at 31 schools in Tennessee to determine which ones have the best bachelor's 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
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of bachelor's graduates during the early years of their career. A bachelor's degree holder from a school in Tennessee makes an average starting salary of $36,466, but the students who attended schools in the top 25 of our list make an average of $37,985.
Starting Salary ( 31322 to 42581 )
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 bachelor's degree.
During their time at college, bachelor's degree seekers from schools in Tennessee take out an average of $26,819.
The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.
Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Bachelor's 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 bachelor's 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 analysis found Vanderbilt University to be the best school for bachelor’s degrees in Tennessee in this year’s ranking. Vanderbilt University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Nashville, Tennessee that handed out 2,365 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $46,210 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $15,553. This translates to an average monthly payment of $644 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. UT Knoxville is a public institution located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5,356 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UT Knoxville is $39,263 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $23,020. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $325.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Belmont University. The school came in at #3 in Tennessee on this year’s best bachelor’s degree schools ranking. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1,711 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $32,640 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $23,907. Average monthly loan payments are around $824 for a 10-year repayment plan.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Sewanee - The University of the South. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Sewanee, Tennessee, and it awarded 429 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $36,756 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $22,806 in student loans.
A rank of #5 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree in Tennessee list means Southern Adventist University is a great place for students working on their degree. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Collegedale, Tennessee, and it awarded 432 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Southern Adventist go into careers with an average salary of $43,590 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $28,598 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $375 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Union University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #6. Union is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Jackson, Tennessee. It awarded 523 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Union make an average of $36,773 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $27,228 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $477 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Rhodes College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Memphis, Tennessee, and it awarded 463 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Rhodes College go into careers with an average salary of $27,947 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $22,598 in student loans.
University of Memphis ranked #8 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. UofM is located in Memphis, Tennessee and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3,273 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from UofM make an average of $36,594 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $26,974. Average monthly loan payments are around $147 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Lipscomb University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Lipscomb is located in Nashville, Tennessee and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 725 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Lipscomb make an average of $41,355 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $25,942 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $216.
East Tennessee State University landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Located in Johnson City, Tennessee, the fairly large public school handed out 2,676 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from ETSU go into careers with an average salary of $30,748 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $21,779 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $212 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Middle Tennessee State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #11. Middle Tennessee State University is a large public school located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee that handed out 3,926 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University is $35,295 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $23,637 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $144 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Lee University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Lee University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cleveland, Tennessee. It awarded 859 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Lee University go into careers with an average salary of $31,691 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $26,921 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $260 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
With a ranking of #13, The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. UT Chattanooga is a public institution located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,139 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UT Chattanooga make an average of $37,862 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $24,517 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $162 for a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #14, Carson - Newman University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Located in Jefferson City, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 341 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Carson - Newman make an average of $31,641 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $24,352.
Bethel University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Bethel University is a small private not-for-profit school located in McKenzie, Tennessee that handed out 478 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Bethel make an average of $50,726 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $32,896 after getting their degree.
Bryan College - Dayton came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Located in Dayton, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 193 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from William Jennings Bryan College make an average of $46,728 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $25,410.
Lincoln Memorial University landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Harrogate, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 412 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,341 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $22,648 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $107 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Tennessee Technological University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Cookeville, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,905 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Tech University make an average of $37,892 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $18,819 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $103.
King University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Bristol, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 540 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from King make an average of $35,856 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $26,592 in student loans.
Christian Brothers University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Christian Brothers is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Memphis, Tennessee. It awarded 386 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Christian Brothers make an average of $47,168 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $31,694 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $199 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Freed-Hardeman University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. FHU is located in Henderson, Tennessee and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 363 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from FHU go into careers with an average salary of $32,678 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $24,761 after getting their degree.
Tennessee Wesleyan University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. TWU is located in Athens, Tennessee and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 315 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from TWU make an average of $38,842 a year. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $25,000 after getting their degree.
Trevecca Nazarene University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #23. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 572 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from TNU make an average of $37,508 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $24,408 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #24, Milligan University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Milligan is a private not-for-profit institution located in Milligan, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 201 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Milligan is $36,952 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $25,126 after getting their degree.
Tennessee State University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 985 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Tennessee State University go into careers with an average salary of $35,573 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $31,212. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $203.
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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