Best College ROI in Tn 2026
45 colleges in Tn analyzed for return on investment. Strayer University-Tennessee leads with a ROI Score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY).
Tn has 45 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 10 public institutions and 35 private ones. Across the 45 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $24K and earn $79K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
91% of Tn colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Strayer University-Tennessee (median $95K on Computer and Information Sciences).
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Tn
Strayer University-Tennessee
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Tn's ROI rankings on its Computer and Information Sciences program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $4K in median debt.
East Tennessee State University
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer and Information Sciences. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Bryan College-Dayton
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Mathematics. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $20K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Tn
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Strayer University-Tennessee(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $4K | $95K | A (100) |
| 2 | East Tennessee State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $18K | $95K | A (97) |
| 3 | Bryan College-Dayton(private) | Mathematics | $20K | $78K | A (96) |
| 4 | Lane College(private) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 5 | Middle Tennessee State University(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 6 | Rhodes College(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 7 | Tennessee State University(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 8 | Tennessee Technological University(public) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 9 | The University of Tennessee Southern(public) | Mathematics | $19K | $78K | A (96) |
| 10 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 11 | The University of the South(private) | Mathematics | $21K | $78K | A (96) |
| 12 | Vanderbilt University(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 13 | Austin Peay State University(public) | Computer Systems Analysis | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 14 | Bethel University(private) | Mathematics | $23K | $78K | A (95) |
| 15 | Cumberland University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 16 | Fisk University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 17 | Milligan University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 18 | Southern Adventist University(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 19 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 20 | Trevecca Nazarene University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
College debt and earnings data for Tn is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Strayer University-Tennessee has the best ROI in Tn with a score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer and Information Sciences, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $4K in median debt.
Across 45 Tn colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $24K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $79K.
Strayer University-Tennessee graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer and Information Sciences). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Tn has 45 colleges in our database (10 public, 35 private). Of the 45 with reportable ROI, 91% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).