2024 Best Grad Schools in Tennessee for Doctorate Degrees
When pursuing a grad degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Doctor's Degree Colleges in Tennessee ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Jump to Any of the Following Sections: * Our Methodology
Finding Your Best Grad School Match
Our analysis looked at 20 grad schools in Tennessee to determine which ones have the best doctorate degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best grad schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
Early-Career Earnings
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of doctorate graduates during the early years of their career. After all, your doctorate degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
Average Student Debt
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that graduate students take on while they are working on their doctorate degree.
We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty doctorate recipients will have paying back their loans.
Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking.
Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
Find out more about our graduate school ranking methodology
Customizing Your List of Rankings
Are you more interested in the top doctorate degree schools in your area? Try narrowing this list
by location. In addition, we've put together a number of other
college rankings that may help you in your search.
Still not sure what graduate degree you wish to pursue? You may want to visit our Best Master's Degree Schools ranking.
Top Doctorate Degree Schools in Tennessee
Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:
787
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$91,182
Average Early-Career Earnings
Our 2024 rankings named Vanderbilt University the best grad school in Tennessee in terms of overall quality for students working on their doctorate degree. Vanderbilt University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Nashville, Tennessee that handed out 787 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from Vanderbilt go into careers with an average salary of $91,182 during the early years of their career.
Full Vanderbilt University Report
3
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$71,807
Average Early-Career Earnings
The excellent doctorate degree programs at Sewanee - The University of the South helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Tennessee. Sewanee - The University of the South is a small private not-for-profit school located in Sewanee, Tennessee that handed out 3 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from Sewanee is $71,807 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About Sewanee - The University of the South
609
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$67,466
Average Early-Career Earnings
A rank of #3 on our Best Doctorate Degrees in Tennessee list means The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a great place for students working on their degree. This large public school is located in Knoxville, Tennessee, and it awarded 609 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from UT Knoxville is $67,466 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About The University of Tennessee - Knoxville
270
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$71,094
Average Early-Career Earnings
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Belmont University. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Belmont is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Nashville, Tennessee. It awarded 270 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from Belmont go into careers with an average salary of $71,094 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About Belmont University
41
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$63,294
Average Early-Career Earnings
A rank of #5 on our Best Doctorate Degrees in Tennessee list means Carson - Newman University is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Jefferson City, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 41 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from Carson - Newman go into careers with an average salary of $63,294 during the early years of their career.
Full Carson - Newman University Report
8
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
Southern Adventist University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Southern Adventist is a private not-for-profit institution located in Collegedale, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Learn More About Southern Adventist University
100
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$83,530
Average Early-Career Earnings
Lipscomb University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Lipscomb is located in Nashville, Tennessee and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 100 doctorate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from Lipscomb go into careers with an average salary of $83,530 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Lipscomb University
164
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$62,900
Average Early-Career Earnings
With a ranking of #8, Trevecca Nazarene University did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate degrees to 164 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a doctorate degree from TNU make an average of $62,900 per year during the early years of their career.
Full Trevecca Nazarene University Report
25
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
Tennessee Technological University did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #9. Tennessee Technological University is a medium-sized public school located in Cookeville, Tennessee that handed out 25 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Tennessee Technological University
83
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$97,235
Average Early-Career Earnings
Union University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Jackson, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate degrees to 83 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from Union go into careers with an average salary of $97,235 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Union University
46
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Middle Tennessee State University is a public institution located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The school has a large population, and it awarded 46 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Middle Tennessee State University
280
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$77,726
Average Early-Career Earnings
East Tennessee State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Located in Johnson City, Tennessee, the fairly large public school handed out 280 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a doctorate degree from ETSU make an average of $77,726 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on East Tennessee State University
73
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$82,367
Average Early-Career Earnings
With a ranking of #13, The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. This fairly large public school is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and it awarded 73 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from UT Chattanooga go into careers with an average salary of $82,367 during the early years of their career.
Full The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga Report
88
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$68,196
Average Early-Career Earnings
Tennessee State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 88 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $68,196 during the early years of their career.
Full Tennessee State University Report
11
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
Freed-Hardeman University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Located in Henderson, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 11 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Learn More About Freed-Hardeman University
493
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$57,484
Average Early-Career Earnings
Lincoln Memorial University landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. LMU is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Harrogate, Tennessee. It awarded 493 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from LMU go into careers with an average salary of $57,484 during the early years of their career.
Full Lincoln Memorial University Report
243
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$65,677
Average Early-Career Earnings
University of Memphis landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. University of Memphis is a large public school located in Memphis, Tennessee that handed out 243 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $65,677 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About University of Memphis
With a ranking of #18, Lee University did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Tennessee list.
Read full report on Lee University
1
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
With a ranking of #19, Austin Peay State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Austin Peay State University is a medium-sized public school located in Clarksville, Tennessee that handed out 1 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Learn More About Austin Peay State University
12
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
Milligan University landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Located in Milligan, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 12 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Milligan University
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