Best Accounting Colleges in Tennessee2026 Rankings
Choosing the right Accounting program in Tennessee means weighing more than just name recognition. We analyzed 28 colleges across the state, scoring each on the metrics that matter most to long-term career success: graduation rates, post-graduation earnings, net cost, and academic rigor.
The data tells an interesting story: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville leads on selectivity (46% acceptance rate), but selectivity is only one dimension of quality. Across Tennessee's Accounting programs, the typical in-state price is $22,084 and the average graduation rate is 50%. Graduates of these programs earn a median of $36,726 within one year of completing their degree.
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| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Union UniversityPrivate | Great· 38 | 47% | 71% | $25,531 | $53,098 | 8:1 | 60 | 1,637 |
| 2 | Lincoln Memorial UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 59% | 54% | $19,591 | $54,326 | 9:1 | 35 | 1,487 |
| 3 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvillePublic | Strong· 36 | 46% | 74% | $18,820 | $53,197 | 18:1 | 99 | 28,763 |
| 4 | Lee UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 72% | 61% | $16,890 | $53,577 | 12:1 | 58 | 2,712 |
| 5 | Tennessee Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 59% | 44% | $14,610 | $41,284 | 12:1 | 39 | 832 |
| 6 | Le Moyne-Owen CollegePrivate | Strong· 36 | 97% | 25% | $9,198 | — | 9:1 | 25 | 571 |
| 7 | Milligan UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 70% | 60% | $20,830 | $39,739 | 9:1 | 36 | 783 |
| 8 | Christian Brothers UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 88% | 56% | $12,547 | $50,114 | 9:1 | 60 | 953 |
| 9 | Lipscomb UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 67% | 69% | $23,820 | $45,943 | 13:1 | 75 | 3,021 |
| 10 | The University of Tennessee SouthernPublic | Strong· 35 | 83% | 36% | $15,701 | $34,798 | 13:1 | 30 | 827 |
| 11 | Middle Tennessee State UniversityPublic | Strong· 34 | 68% | 54% | $12,840 | $51,963 | 17:1 | 72 | 16,115 |
| 12 | The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaPublic | Strong· 34 | 77% | 53% | $12,478 | $40,626 | 17:1 | 47 | 9,878 |
| 13 | Maryville CollegePrivate | Strong· 34 | 66% | 47% | $19,434 | $32,423 | 12:1 | 46 | 1,028 |
| 14 | Carson-Newman UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 68% | 46% | $17,326 | $42,215 | 12:1 | 64 | 1,374 |
| 15 | Tennessee Technological UniversityPublic | Good· 33 | 83% | 54% | $14,405 | $41,530 | 16:1 | 41 | 8,495 |
| 16 | Tennessee State UniversityPublic | Good· 33 | 93% | 33% | $11,079 | $53,620 | 13:1 | 34 | 6,498 |
| 17 | Freed-Hardeman UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 91% | 68% | $19,533 | $39,905 | 13:1 | 39 | 1,244 |
| 18 | The University of Tennessee-MartinPublic | Good· 32 | 87% | 55% | $12,457 | $48,101 | 15:1 | 39 | 4,600 |
| 19 | Belmont UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 96% | 72% | $27,345 | $37,296 | 12:1 | 65 | 7,306 |
| 20 | Trevecca Nazarene UniversityPrivate | Good· 31 | 70% | 55% | $12,303 | $43,262 | 22:1 | 51 | 1,697 |
| 21 | Austin Peay State UniversityPublic | Good· 31 | 96% | 45% | $16,365 | $37,566 | 15:1 | 40 | 7,365 |
| 22 | University of MemphisPublic | Good· 30 | 93% | 49% | $15,357 | $51,425 | 17:1 | 50 | 13,645 |
| 23 | Cumberland UniversityPrivate | Good· 30 | 67% | 47% | $17,891 | $45,973 | 18:1 | 31 | 2,053 |
| 24 | Southern Adventist UniversityPrivate | Good· 30 | 67% | 51% | $23,907 | $45,366 | 16:1 | 83 | 2,673 |
| 25 | East Tennessee State UniversityPublic | Average· 29 | 87% | 50% | $16,944 | $44,834 | 18:1 | 51 | 9,807 |
| 26 | Bethel UniversityPrivate | Average· 27 | 97% | 35% | $21,838 | $48,196 | 17:1 | 36 | 1,671 |
| 27 | South CollegePrivate | Poor· 16 | — | 37% | $18,193 | $46,134 | 23:1 | 18 | 6,323 |
| 28 | Strayer University-TennesseePrivate | Very Poor· 7 | — | 0% | $23,838 | $52,373 | 39:1 | 9 | 2,670 |