by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Best Tennessee Schools For The Money For Those Making $0-$30k for a Master's ranking - to help you make that decision. This list may shock you as many typically expensive schools are very generous with need-based financial aid.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
Our analysis looked at 28 schools in Tennessee to determine which ones have the best value Master's Degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best value schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
To calculate the value of a school in our Best Master's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee ranking, we first consider its average net price of students from families making $0-$30k a year. The net price is the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that that the student receives. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To take this into account we consider a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a combination of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
To learn more, visit our best value ranking methodology page.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Vanderbilt University to be the best value (income $0-$30k) school for master’s degrees in Tennessee in this year’s ranking. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Nashville, Tennessee.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Vanderbilt University is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Tennessee.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Sewanee - The University of the South. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee list. Sewanee is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sewanee, Tennessee.
Sewanee - The University of the South has the honor of being ranked #2 in Tennessee for overall quality on top of being a good value.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee list. Knoxville, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Tennessee.
Learn More About Value at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville
The quality degree programs at Middle Tennessee State University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee. Middle Tennessee State University is a public institution located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Not only is Middle Tennessee State University a great value, but it is also ranked #14 in Tennessee for overall quality.
Out of the 28 master’s degree schools in Tennessee that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga landed the #5 spot on the list. UT Chattanooga is a public institution located in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga has the honor of being ranked #17 in Tennessee for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Read full value report on The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga
The University of Tennessee - Martin did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #6. UT Martin is a medium-sized public school situated in Martin, Tennessee.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, The University of Tennessee - Martin is ranked #24 for quality in the state of Tennessee.
Read full value report on The University of Tennessee - Martin
East Tennessee State University landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee ranking. Johnson City, Tennessee is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, East Tennessee State University is ranked #12 for quality in the state of Tennessee.
Tennessee Technological University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee ranking. Tennessee Technological University is a medium-sized public school located in Cookeville, Tennessee.
Not only is Tennessee Technological University a great value, but it is also ranked #9 in Tennessee for overall quality.
Trevecca Nazarene University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee list. TNU is located in Nashville, Tennessee and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Trevecca Nazarene University a great value, but it is also ranked #10 in Tennessee for overall quality.
Lincoln Memorial University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #10. Lincoln Memorial University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Harrogate, Tennessee.
Lincoln Memorial University has the honor of being ranked #8 in Tennessee for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Christian Brothers University landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee ranking. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Not only is Christian Brothers University a great value, but it is also ranked #16 in Tennessee for overall quality.
University of Memphis landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee ranking. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, the school is a large public institution.
University of Memphis has the honor of being ranked #11 in Tennessee for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Bryan College - Dayton ranked #13 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee list. Located in Dayton, Tennessee, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Bryan College - Dayton has the honor of being ranked #15 in Tennessee for overall quality on top of being a good value.
With a ranking of #14, Tennessee Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee list. TWU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Athens, Tennessee.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Tennessee Wesleyan University is ranked #26 for quality in the state of Tennessee.
Milligan University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #15. Milligan is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Milligan, Tennessee.
Not only is Milligan University a great value, but it is also ranked #18 in Tennessee for overall quality.
Tennessee State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #16. Tennessee State University is located in Nashville, Tennessee and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Tennessee State University a great value, but it is also ranked #22 in Tennessee for overall quality.
Austin Peay State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee ranking. Austin Peay State University is a medium-sized public school located in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Austin Peay State University has the honor of being ranked #25 in Tennessee for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Lee University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Cleveland, Tennessee.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Lee University is ranked #19 for quality in the state of Tennessee.
Bethel University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee list. Bethel University is a small private not-for-profit school located in McKenzie, Tennessee.
Not only is Bethel University a great value, but it is also ranked #21 in Tennessee for overall quality.
Carson - Newman University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #20. Carson - Newman is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
Not only is Carson - Newman University a great value, but it is also ranked #13 in Tennessee for overall quality.
Freed-Hardeman University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #21. FHU is located in Henderson, Tennessee and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Freed-Hardeman University a great value, but it is also ranked #23 in Tennessee for overall quality.
Belmont University landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee ranking. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Nashville, Tennessee.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Belmont University is ranked #4 for quality in the state of Tennessee.
Southern Adventist University landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee ranking. Southern Adventist University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Collegedale, Tennessee.
Southern Adventist University has the honor of being ranked #6 in Tennessee for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Tusculum University landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee ranking. Tusculum is located in Greeneville, Tennessee and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Tusculum University is ranked #28 for quality in the state of Tennessee.
Lipscomb University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee ranking. Lipscomb is located in Nashville, Tennessee and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Lipscomb University a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Tennessee for overall quality.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.