Top 50 Best Doctoral Degree Programs in Tennessee by ROI

Every Doctoral 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

22

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

+$727,669

Across all Tennessee programs

Average Annual Cost

$42,755

Cost of attendance

# College Major 20-Yr Net ROI Median Salary Annual Cost Avg Debt
1 Meharry Medical College Dentistry. +$1,938,720 $138,936 N/A N/A Full ROI →
2 The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$1,814,880 $132,744 N/A N/A Full ROI →
3 Union University

Grad rate: 68.8%

 Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. +$1,437,180 $125,017 $55,790 N/A Full ROI →
4 Southern College of Optometry Optometry. +$1,370,140 $110,507 N/A N/A Full ROI →
5 Belmont University

Grad rate: 72.1%

 Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. +$1,276,600 $117,926 $60,480 N/A Full ROI →
6 East Tennessee State University

Grad rate: 52.4%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$1,088,752 $101,627 $25,947 N/A Full ROI →
7 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

 Educational Administration and Supervision. +$992,852 $108,525 $84,412 N/A Full ROI →
8 East Tennessee State University

Grad rate: 52.4%

 Educational Administration and Supervision. +$616,092 $77,994 $25,947 N/A Full ROI →
9 Lipscomb University

Grad rate: 69.1%

 Educational Administration and Supervision. +$608,604 $83,140 $53,549 N/A Full ROI →
10 The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. +$605,100 $72,255 N/A N/A Full ROI →
11 The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. +$601,800 $72,090 N/A N/A Full ROI →
12 Tennessee State University

Grad rate: 32.7%

 Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. +$598,208 $76,676 $23,828 N/A Full ROI →
13 East Tennessee State University

Grad rate: 52.4%

 Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. +$557,092 $75,044 $25,947 N/A Full ROI →
14 Trevecca Nazarene University

Grad rate: 58.0%

 Educational Administration and Supervision. +$485,396 $74,015 $38,726 N/A Full ROI →
15 The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Grad rate: 52.7%

 Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. +$452,188 $69,322 $23,563 N/A Full ROI →
16 Meharry Medical College Medicine. +$444,960 $64,248 N/A N/A Full ROI →
17 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Grad rate: 73.0%

 Education, General. +$408,928 $68,978 $32,658 N/A Full ROI →
18 Union University

Grad rate: 68.8%

 Educational Administration and Supervision. +$314,980 $68,907 $55,790 N/A Full ROI →
19 Belmont University

Grad rate: 72.1%

 Law. +$266,340 $67,413 $60,480 N/A Full ROI →
20 Strayer University-Tennessee Business Administration, Management and Operations. +$243,888 $58,962 $23,838 N/A Full ROI →
21 Belmont University

Grad rate: 72.1%

 Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. +$72,000 $57,696 $60,480 N/A Full ROI →
22 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Grad rate: 73.0%

 Social Work. -$185,972 $39,233 $32,658 N/A 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.