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

Every Master'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

199

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

+$429,878

Across all Tennessee programs

Average Annual Cost

$39,393

Cost of attendance

# College Major 20-Yr Net ROI Median Salary Annual Cost Avg Debt
1 The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences. +$3,624,480 $223,224 N/A N/A Full ROI →
2 Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Inc Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$2,572,980 $170,649 N/A N/A Full ROI →
3 Lincoln Memorial University

Grad rate: 52.4%

 Medicine. +$2,554,208 $173,620 $39,096 N/A Full ROI →
4 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

 Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies. +$2,374,076 $169,145 $84,412 N/A Full ROI →
5 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Grad rate: 73.0%

 Dentistry. +$2,089,944 $149,763 $32,658 N/A Full ROI →
6 The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Grad rate: 52.7%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$2,072,794 $147,996 $23,563 N/A Full ROI →
7 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

 Health and Medical Administrative Services. +$1,871,336 $144,008 $84,412 N/A Full ROI →
8 The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Dentistry. +$1,861,860 $135,093 N/A N/A Full ROI →
9 The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$1,717,000 $127,850 N/A N/A Full ROI →
10 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

 Finance and Financial Management Services. +$1,651,676 $133,025 $84,412 N/A Full ROI →
11 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

 Business Administration, Management and Operations. +$1,640,256 $132,454 $84,412 N/A Full ROI →
12 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

 Law. +$1,601,496 $130,516 $84,412 N/A Full ROI →
13 The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. +$1,601,260 $122,063 N/A N/A Full ROI →
14 South College

Grad rate: 37.5%

 Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. +$1,587,938 $124,415 $30,181 N/A Full ROI →
15 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Grad rate: 73.0%

 Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. +$1,578,464 $124,189 $32,658 N/A Full ROI →
16 Lipscomb University

Grad rate: 69.1%

 Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. +$1,566,882 $125,699 $53,549 N/A Full ROI →
17 East Tennessee State University

Grad rate: 52.4%

 Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. +$1,528,166 $121,003 $25,947 N/A Full ROI →
18 Bethel University

Grad rate: 39.3%

 Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. +$1,482,800 $119,367 $32,270 N/A Full ROI →
19 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

 Marketing. +$1,426,256 $121,754 $84,412 N/A Full ROI →
20 South College

Grad rate: 37.5%

 Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. +$1,358,098 $112,923 $30,181 N/A Full ROI →
21 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Grad rate: 73.0%

 Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. +$1,266,964 $108,614 $32,658 N/A Full ROI →
22 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Grad rate: 73.0%

 Business Administration, Management and Operations. +$1,262,864 $108,409 $32,658 N/A Full ROI →
23 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$1,235,036 $112,193 $84,412 N/A Full ROI →
24 Lincoln Memorial University

Grad rate: 52.4%

 Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. +$1,228,668 $107,343 $39,096 N/A Full ROI →
25 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

 Public Health. +$1,224,296 $111,656 $84,412 N/A Full ROI →
26 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Grad rate: 73.0%

 Mechanical Engineering. +$1,188,424 $104,687 $32,658 N/A Full ROI →
27 Trevecca Nazarene University

Grad rate: 58.0%

 Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. +$1,170,488 $104,397 $38,726 N/A Full ROI →
28 The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. +$1,155,240 $99,762 N/A N/A Full ROI →
29 Southern Adventist University

Grad rate: 51.6%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$1,139,370 $102,756 $37,875 N/A Full ROI →
30 Christian Brothers University

Grad rate: 57.8%

 Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. +$1,108,362 $102,010 $45,919 N/A Full ROI →
31 Lincoln Memorial University

Grad rate: 52.4%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$1,062,708 $99,045 $39,096 N/A Full ROI →
32 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Grad rate: 73.0%

 Veterinary Medicine. +$1,031,444 $96,838 $32,658 N/A Full ROI →
33 University of Memphis

Grad rate: 48.8%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$970,732 $93,053 $25,164 N/A Full ROI →
34 East Tennessee State University

Grad rate: 52.4%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$966,946 $92,942 $25,947 N/A Full ROI →
35 Tennessee State University

Grad rate: 32.7%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$955,764 $92,171 $23,828 N/A Full ROI →
36 Middle Tennessee State University

Grad rate: 54.3%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$925,912 $90,571 $22,754 N/A Full ROI →
37 The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Health and Medical Administrative Services. +$906,820 $87,341 N/A N/A Full ROI →
38 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Grad rate: 73.0%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$901,584 $90,345 $32,658 N/A Full ROI →
39 Austin Peay State University

Grad rate: 43.9%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$891,640 $89,261 $26,790 N/A Full ROI →
40 Middle Tennessee State University

Grad rate: 54.3%

 Psychology, General. +$878,912 $88,221 $22,754 N/A Full ROI →
41 Belmont University

Grad rate: 72.1%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$873,900 $91,743 $60,480 N/A Full ROI →
42 Union University

Grad rate: 68.8%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$863,260 $90,742 $55,790 N/A Full ROI →
43 Tennessee Technological University

Grad rate: 57.0%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$861,804 $87,624 $25,338 N/A Full ROI →
44 Carson-Newman University

Grad rate: 51.9%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$854,670 $89,368 $46,345 N/A Full ROI →
45 Christian Brothers University

Grad rate: 57.8%

 Business Administration, Management and Operations. +$842,762 $88,730 $45,919 N/A Full ROI →
46 Belmont University

Grad rate: 72.1%

 Business/Commerce, General. +$801,600 $88,128 $60,480 N/A Full ROI →
47 University of Memphis

Grad rate: 48.8%

 Health and Medical Administrative Services. +$785,092 $83,771 $25,164 N/A Full ROI →
48 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

 Human Resources Management and Services. +$742,236 $87,553 $84,412 N/A Full ROI →
49 University of Memphis

Grad rate: 48.8%

 Business Administration, Management and Operations. +$741,112 $81,572 $25,164 N/A Full ROI →
50 The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Grad rate: 52.7%

 Business Administration, Management and Operations. +$724,974 $80,605 $23,563 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.