by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen 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 Master'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
Our analysis looked at 28 grad schools in Tennessee to determine which ones have the best master's 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.
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a master's degree from the school. After all, your master's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
Graduate students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their master's so we factor that into our rankings as well. The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.
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 Master's 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
Thinking about continuing your education further? Check out our Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking.
Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:
Our analysis found Vanderbilt University to be the best grad 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, and it awarded 1,554 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Vanderbilt is $82,140 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 28 master’s degree schools in Tennessee that were part of this year’s ranking, Sewanee - The University of the South landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Sewanee, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 33 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville. The school came in at #3 in Tennessee on this year’s best master’s degree schools ranking. UT Knoxville is a large public school situated in Knoxville, Tennessee. It awarded 1,570 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from UT Knoxville make an average of $55,130 a year.
A rank of #4 on our Best Master’s Degree in Tennessee list means Belmont University is a great place for students working on their degree. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 280 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Belmont make an average of $59,694 per year during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Adventist University. The school came in at #5 in Tennessee on this year’s best master’s degree schools ranking. Located in Collegedale, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 150 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $57,479 during the early years of their career.
Lipscomb University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #6. Lipscomb is a private not-for-profit institution located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 545 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Lipscomb make an average of $48,241 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #7, Union University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Union University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Jackson, Tennessee that handed out 323 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Union make an average of $53,040 a year.
Lincoln Memorial University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #8. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Harrogate, Tennessee, and it awarded 468 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from LMU make an average of $59,349 per year during the early years of their career.
Carson - Newman University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Jefferson City, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 252 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Carson - Newman is $53,790 during the early years of their career.
University of Memphis landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, the large public school awarded 1,062 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from UofM is $51,231 during the early years of their career.
Bryan College - Dayton did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #11. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Dayton, Tennessee, and it awarded 82 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Christian Brothers University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Christian Brothers is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Memphis, Tennessee. It awarded 170 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Christian Brothers make an average of $62,862 a year.
Milligan University landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Milligan is a private not-for-profit institution located in Milligan, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 145 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Milligan go into careers with an average salary of $52,433 during the early years of their career.
East Tennessee State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. ETSU is a public institution located in Johnson City, Tennessee. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 684 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from ETSU make an average of $46,995 a year.
Middle Tennessee State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Middle Tennessee State University is a public institution located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The school has a large population, and it awarded 678 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University make an average of $50,391 per year during the early years of their career.
Trevecca Nazarene University landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Trevecca Nazarene University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Nashville, Tennessee that handed out 506 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from TNU make an average of $50,160 a year.
The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga ranked #17 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga is a fairly large public school located in Chattanooga, Tennessee that handed out 394 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from UT Chattanooga go into careers with an average salary of $65,123 during the early years of their career.
Tennessee Technological University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Tennessee Tech University is located in Cookeville, Tennessee and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 391 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Tennessee Tech University is $52,008 during the early years of their career.
King University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #19. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Bristol, Tennessee, and it awarded 189 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from King make an average of $61,846 per year during the early years of their career.
Lee University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Cleveland, Tennessee, and it awarded 184 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Lee University make an average of $36,532 a year.
With a ranking of #21, Tennessee State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school awarded 303 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $57,524 during the early years of their career.
Freed-Hardeman University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. FHU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Henderson, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 91 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from FHU go into careers with an average salary of $36,983 during the early years of their career.
Bethel University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #23. Located in McKenzie, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 216 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Bethel make an average of $62,482 per year during the early years of their career.
Tennessee Wesleyan University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Located in Athens, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 29 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The University of Tennessee - Martin came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Martin, Tennessee, and it awarded 231 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from UT Martin go into careers with an average salary of $46,272 during the early years of their career.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.