Top 50 Best Bachelor's Degree Programs in Tennessee by ROI

Every Bachelor's Degree program in Tennessee ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all majors. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in Tennessee

461

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

-$135,984

Across all Tennessee programs

Average Annual Cost

$34,498

Cost of attendance

# College Major 20-Yr Net ROI Median Salary Annual Cost Avg Debt
1 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

 Computer Science. +$2,085,557 $164,139 $84,412 $14,500 Full ROI →
2 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

 Mathematics. +$723,932 $95,754 $84,412 $10,000 Full ROI →
3 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Grad rate: 73.0%

 Nuclear Engineering. +$658,758 $83,022 $32,658 $23,000 Full ROI →
4 Tennessee Technological University

Grad rate: 57.0%

 Computer Engineering. +$602,968 $77,216 $25,338 N/A Full ROI →
5 Bethel University

Grad rate: 39.3%

 Business/Commerce, General. +$600,480 $78,478 $32,270 N/A Full ROI →
6 The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Grad rate: 52.7%

 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. +$595,981 $78,427 $23,563 $28,375 Full ROI →
7 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

 Economics. +$579,679 $88,705 $84,412 $12,424 Full ROI →
8 Tennessee Technological University

Grad rate: 57.0%

 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. +$568,742 $76,857 $25,338 $20,034 Full ROI →
9 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

 Chemical Engineering. +$562,292 $86,997 $84,412 N/A Full ROI →
10 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Grad rate: 73.0%

 Chemical Engineering. +$554,081 $77,746 $32,658 $22,375 Full ROI →
11 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Grad rate: 73.0%

 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. +$540,467 $77,015 $32,658 $21,630 Full ROI →
12 The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Grad rate: 52.7%

 Mechanical Engineering. +$530,967 $74,942 $23,563 $24,904 Full ROI →
13 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

 Civil Engineering. +$516,672 $84,716 $84,412 N/A Full ROI →
14 The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Grad rate: 52.7%

 Chemical Engineering. +$485,408 $70,983 $23,563 N/A Full ROI →
15 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Grad rate: 73.0%

 Mechanical Engineering. +$477,280 $73,965 $32,658 $23,250 Full ROI →
16 The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Grad rate: 52.7%

 Civil Engineering. +$459,419 $71,084 $23,563 $20,747 Full ROI →
17 The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Grad rate: 52.7%

 Engineering, General. +$456,868 $69,556 $23,563 N/A Full ROI →
18 University of Memphis

Grad rate: 48.8%

 Mechanical Engineering. +$456,019 $71,690 $25,164 $27,500 Full ROI →
19 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

 Philosophy. +$452,512 $81,508 $84,412 N/A Full ROI →
20 Middle Tennessee State University

Grad rate: 54.3%

 Construction Management. +$432,296 $69,654 $22,754 $22,050 Full ROI →
21 Tennessee Technological University

Grad rate: 57.0%

 Mechanical Engineering. +$423,653 $69,634 $25,338 $20,500 Full ROI →
22 Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$412,531 $72,065 $31,743 $45,775 Full ROI →
23 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Grad rate: 73.0%

 Computer Science. +$411,615 $70,243 $32,658 $16,750 Full ROI →
24 University of Memphis

Grad rate: 48.8%

 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. +$401,394 $68,655 $25,164 $23,000 Full ROI →
25 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

 Biomedical/Medical Engineering. +$399,447 $80,171 $84,412 $19,500 Full ROI →
26 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

 Mechanical Engineering. +$389,732 $79,314 $84,412 $14,000 Full ROI →
27 University of Memphis

Grad rate: 48.8%

 Computer Engineering. +$386,254 $68,033 $25,164 $25,000 Full ROI →
28 The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$383,105 $63,149 N/A $29,537 Full ROI →
29 Tennessee Technological University

Grad rate: 57.0%

 Computer Science. +$376,531 $67,150 $25,338 $18,605 Full ROI →
30 Christian Brothers University

Grad rate: 57.8%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$375,044 $69,936 $45,919 N/A Full ROI →
31 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

 Engineering Science. +$374,782 $78,634 $84,412 $15,000 Full ROI →
32 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

 Neurobiology and Neurosciences. +$372,107 $78,554 $84,412 $15,796 Full ROI →
33 Strayer University-Tennessee Information Science/Studies. +$366,100 $68,667 $23,838 $53,250 Full ROI →
34 Middle Tennessee State University

Grad rate: 54.3%

 Computer Science. +$362,839 $66,144 $22,754 $21,500 Full ROI →
35 East Tennessee State University

Grad rate: 52.4%

 Computer and Information Sciences, General. +$353,168 $66,513 $25,947 $24,669 Full ROI →
36 Tennessee Technological University

Grad rate: 57.0%

 Engineering Technology, General. +$342,678 $65,754 $25,338 $23,000 Full ROI →
37 Belmont University

Grad rate: 72.1%

 Accounting and Related Services. +$341,860 $71,189 $60,480 N/A Full ROI →
38 Lee University

Grad rate: 61.8%

 Health/Medical Preparatory Programs. +$336,104 $65,665 $34,299 N/A Full ROI →
39 Strayer University-Tennessee Computer and Information Sciences, General. +$329,633 $66,674 $23,838 $50,737 Full ROI →
40 University of Memphis

Grad rate: 48.8%

 Engineering Technology, General. +$320,944 $64,943 $25,164 $27,600 Full ROI →
41 Tennessee State University

Grad rate: 32.7%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$306,158 $64,166 $23,828 $31,000 Full ROI →
42 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Grad rate: 73.0%

 Biomedical/Medical Engineering. +$289,358 $64,498 $32,658 $22,200 Full ROI →
43 Austin Peay State University

Grad rate: 43.9%

 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions. +$287,926 $63,294 $26,790 $22,810 Full ROI →
44 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Grad rate: 73.0%

 Industrial Engineering. +$282,139 $64,267 $32,658 $24,125 Full ROI →
45 Tennessee Technological University

Grad rate: 57.0%

 Chemical Engineering. +$281,463 $62,052 $25,338 $13,500 Full ROI →
46 Middle Tennessee State University

Grad rate: 54.3%

 Engineering-Related Fields. +$279,336 $61,839 $22,754 $19,576 Full ROI →
47 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Grad rate: 73.0%

 Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. +$273,849 $63,928 $32,658 $25,243 Full ROI →
48 University of Memphis

Grad rate: 48.8%

 Civil Engineering. +$271,001 $62,591 $25,164 $29,750 Full ROI →
49 Bethel University

Grad rate: 39.3%

 Homeland Security. +$270,969 $64,157 $32,270 $31,919 Full ROI →
50 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Grad rate: 73.0%

 Civil Engineering. +$269,410 $63,450 $32,658 $21,450 Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.