2023 best colleges in Tennessee

With close proximity to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, one of the largest government-funded laboratories nationwide, the University of Tennessee provides students with extensive research opportunities in energy, biology, security, and more. Vanderbilt University, one of the top schools in the country, also deserves recognition for its health and radiation effects research and its on-campus arboretum, featuring trees as old as the American Revolution. For students interested in hands-on learning, Belmont University, located in the vibrant and musical city of Nashville, boasts leading study abroad and service learning programs.

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Payback
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EarningsPlus
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Ranking methodology
#1 in Tennessee | #14 in Economics nationally

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee

Economic score: 0.89

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $19,970

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 1.3 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $88,705

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: + $27,142

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 7%
Graduation rate: 93%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#2 in Tennessee | #168 in Economics nationally

Rhodes College

Memphis, Tennessee

Economic score: 3.16

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $25,881

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 3 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $59,878

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: - $3,763

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 57%
Graduation rate: 80%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#3 in Tennessee | #197 in Economics nationally
Economic score: 3.59

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $34,455

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 3.6 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $63,733

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: + $463

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 60%
Graduation rate: 79%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#4 in Tennessee | #222 in Economics nationally
Economic score: 4.01

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $18,579

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 3 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $51,095

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: - $18,357

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 75%
Graduation rate: 71%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

How long does it take me to repay a bachelor's degree in economics in Tennessee?

Years

2.2 years

The cost of the average bachelor's degree in economics in Tennessee is covered by the new earnings of graduates in 2.2 years.

How much do graduates with bachelor's degree in economics earn in Tennessee?

Salary

$73,436

The median bachelor's degree in economics graduate earns $73,436 3 years after graduating.

How much does a bachelor's degree in economics cost in Tennessee?

Net cost

$22,055

The average annual cost of a bachelor's degree in economics is $22,055. This is the net cost and considers only students that have received Title IV funds.