Best Colleges in Tennessee by ROI

Trying to find the best value in Tennessee? We ranked all 41 colleges we track here on what graduates actually earn versus what families actually pay, using U.S. Department of Education data. Vanderbilt University comes out on top at 97/100 - here's how every school compares.

Schools

Avg ROI Score

$18,537

Avg Net Price

Top Score

We scored all 41 Tennessee colleges in our dataset from 0 to 100 on one thing: financial return. The state averages 41/100, on an average net price of $18,537 a year after grants and scholarships. The school that does best by your money is Vanderbilt University at 97/100.

Graduates of Vanderbilt University earn the most ten years out of any school in the state, a median $91,565. The lightest price tag belongs to Le Moyne-Owen College at $7,099 a year. The list below ranks every Tennessee college we scored by ROI, so you can weigh what you'd pay against what you'd likely earn.

Top 10 Tennessee Colleges by ROI Score

Best ROI in Tennessee (Full Ranking)All Rankings Compare Schools ROI Calculator

Tennessee College ROI: Common Questions

What is the best-value college in Tennessee?

Vanderbilt University has the highest ROI score in Tennessee at 97/100, while the lowest net price among Tennessee schools we track is $7,099/year at Le Moyne-Owen College. Rankings are based on net price and median graduate earnings from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

How much does college cost in Tennessee?

The average net price across the 41 Tennessee colleges in our dataset is $18,537 per year, after grants and scholarships are applied. Actual cost varies widely by family income and institution.

Which Tennessee college has the highest graduate earnings?

Vanderbilt University reports the highest median earnings among Tennessee schools we scored, at $91,565 ten years after enrollment. Higher earnings do not always mean better ROI, since cost matters just as much.

How many colleges in Tennessee did CampusROI analyze?

We scored 41 colleges in Tennessee on return on investment. Of those, 7 earn an ROI score of 60 or higher. See our methodology for how each score is calculated.

All Tennessee Schools by ROI Score

41 schools

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN

Best Colleges in Tennessee by ROI

Top 10 Tennessee Colleges by ROI Score

Tennessee College ROI: Common Questions

What is the best-value college in Tennessee?

How much does college cost in Tennessee?

Which Tennessee college has the highest graduate earnings?

How many colleges in Tennessee did CampusROI analyze?

All Tennessee Schools by ROI Score

Vanderbilt University

Rhodes College

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Baptist Health Sciences University

The University of the South

Christian Brothers University

Cumberland University

Lipscomb University

King University

Tennessee Technological University

Bryan College-Dayton

Belmont University

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Union University

Trevecca Nazarene University

Middle Tennessee State University

University of Memphis

Freed-Hardeman University

Lincoln Memorial University

Southern Adventist University

Carson-Newman University

Tennessee Wesleyan University

The University of Tennessee-Martin

Milligan University

Austin Peay State University

East Tennessee State University

Maryville College

Bethel University

American Baptist College

Visible Music College

Lee University

Johnson University

Welch College

Tusculum University

Tennessee State University

The University of Tennessee Southern

Fisk University

Le Moyne-Owen College

Strayer University-Tennessee

Nossi College of Art and Design

Lane College