Best College ROI in Tn 2026
45 colleges in Tn analyzed for return on investment. Strayer University-Tennessee leads with a ROI Score of 99/100 (STRONG BUY).
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 (99) |
| 2 | East Tennessee State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $18K | $95K | A (92) |
| 3 | Lane College(private) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (90) |
| 4 | Rhodes College(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (90) |
| 5 | Tennessee Technological University(public) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (90) |
| 6 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (90) |
| 7 | Austin Peay State University(public) | Computer Systems Analysis | $23K | $95K | A (89) |
| 8 | Bryan College-Dayton(private) | Mathematics | $20K | $78K | A (89) |
| 9 | Cumberland University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (89) |
| 10 | Fisk University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (89) |
| 11 | Middle Tennessee State University(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (89) |
| 12 | Southern Adventist University(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (89) |
| 13 | Tennessee State University(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (89) |
| 14 | The University of Tennessee Southern(public) | Mathematics | $19K | $78K | A (89) |
| 15 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (89) |
| 16 | Vanderbilt University(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (89) |
| 17 | Milligan University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $23K | $95K | A (88) |
| 18 | The University of the South(private) | Mathematics | $21K | $78K | A (88) |
| 19 | Trevecca Nazarene University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $23K | $95K | A (88) |
| 20 | Tusculum University(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (88) |
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 99/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer and Information Sciences with $95K in first-year earnings.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium (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."
Tn has 45 colleges in our database. Each is analyzed across all available majors to find the best return on your education investment.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).