Highest ROI College Degrees in Tennessee

Top 20 college + major combinations in Tennessee ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

# College Major 20-Yr Net ROI Median Salary Annual Cost
1 The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences. +$3,624,480 $223,224 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 Full ROI →
3 Lincoln Memorial University

Grad rate: 52.4%

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

Grad rate: 92.7%

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

Grad rate: 73.0%

 Dentistry. +$2,089,944 $149,763 $32,658 Full ROI →
6 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

 Computer Science. +$2,085,557 $164,139 $84,412 Full ROI →
7 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 Full ROI →
8 Meharry Medical College Dentistry. +$1,938,720 $138,936 N/A Full ROI →
9 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

 Health and Medical Administrative Services. +$1,871,336 $144,008 $84,412 Full ROI →
10 The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Dentistry. +$1,861,860 $135,093 N/A Full ROI →
11 The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$1,814,880 $132,744 N/A Full ROI →
12 The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$1,717,000 $127,850 N/A Full ROI →
13 Vanderbilt University

Grad rate: 92.7%

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

Grad rate: 92.7%

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

Grad rate: 92.7%

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

Grad rate: 37.5%

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

Grad rate: 73.0%

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

Grad rate: 69.1%

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

Grad rate: 52.4%

 Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. +$1,528,166 $121,003 $25,947 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.