Best Economics Colleges in Tennessee2026 Rankings
Choosing the right Economics program in Tennessee means weighing more than just name recognition. We analyzed 19 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: Vanderbilt University leads on selectivity (6% acceptance rate), but selectivity is only one dimension of quality. Across Tennessee's Economics programs, the typical in-state price is $27,657 and the average graduation rate is 58%. Graduates of these programs earn a median of $39,518 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 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | Elite· 51 | 6% | 93% | $6,211 | $84,311 | 7:1 | 51 | 7,143 |
| 2 | Rhodes CollegePrivate | Excellent· 45 | 50% | 82% | $16,317 | $57,814 | 11:1 | 33 | 1,931 |
| 3 | The University of the SouthPrivate | Excellent· 44 | 51% | 82% | $18,421 | $58,532 | 9:1 | 33 | 1,598 |
| 4 | Union UniversityPrivate | Great· 38 | 47% | 71% | $25,531 | $53,098 | 8:1 | 60 | 1,637 |
| 5 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvillePublic | Strong· 36 | 46% | 74% | $18,820 | $43,014 | 18:1 | 99 | 28,763 |
| 6 | Milligan UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 70% | 60% | $20,830 | $39,739 | 9:1 | 36 | 783 |
| 7 | Lipscomb UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 67% | 69% | $23,820 | $45,943 | 13:1 | 75 | 3,021 |
| 8 | Middle Tennessee State UniversityPublic | Strong· 34 | 68% | 54% | $12,840 | $31,988 | 17:1 | 72 | 16,115 |
| 9 | The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaPublic | Strong· 34 | 77% | 53% | $12,478 | $40,626 | 17:1 | 47 | 9,878 |
| 10 | Maryville CollegePrivate | Strong· 34 | 66% | 47% | $19,434 | $32,423 | 12:1 | 46 | 1,028 |
| 11 | Carson-Newman UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 68% | 46% | $17,326 | $42,215 | 12:1 | 64 | 1,374 |
| 12 | Tennessee Technological UniversityPublic | Good· 33 | 83% | 54% | $14,405 | $43,112 | 16:1 | 41 | 8,495 |
| 13 | Tennessee State UniversityPublic | Good· 33 | 93% | 33% | $11,079 | $32,793 | 13:1 | 34 | 6,498 |
| 14 | The University of Tennessee-MartinPublic | Good· 32 | 87% | 55% | $12,457 | $38,328 | 15:1 | 39 | 4,600 |
| 15 | Belmont UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 96% | 72% | $27,345 | $37,296 | 12:1 | 65 | 7,306 |
| 16 | University of MemphisPublic | Good· 30 | 93% | 49% | $15,357 | $42,466 | 17:1 | 50 | 13,645 |
| 17 | Southern Adventist UniversityPrivate | Good· 30 | 67% | 51% | $23,907 | $45,366 | 16:1 | 83 | 2,673 |
| 18 | East Tennessee State UniversityPublic | Average· 29 | 87% | 50% | $16,944 | $39,962 | 18:1 | 51 | 9,807 |
| 19 | Strayer University-TennesseePrivate | Very Poor· 7 | — | 0% | $23,838 | $60,341 | 39:1 | 9 | 2,670 |