Best colleges for economics in Tennessee
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in economics, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for economics in Tennessee16 schools
16 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Tennessee.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in economics, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- 2
Rhodes College
Memphis, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B
- 3Tie
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 3Tie
The University of the South
Sewanee, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B-
- 5
Union University
Jackson, TN · Private nonprofit#6 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B-
- 6
Belmont University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#7 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade C+
- 7
Milligan University
Milligan, TN · Private nonprofit#9 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B-
- 8
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN · PublicTop 21% for low debt
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B+ · Top 21%
- 9
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN · Public#13 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 10
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN · Public#17 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B · Top 44%
- 11
Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, TN · Private nonprofit#20 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B-
- 12
Carson-Newman University
Jefferson City, TN · Private nonprofit#24 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B-
- 13
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN · PublicTop 23% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 14
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · PublicGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
- 15
Maryville College
Maryville, TN · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B-
- 16
Strayer University-Tennessee
Memphis, TN · Private for-profitTop 20% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade C+
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University | $15,846 | $14,000 | $91,565 | 94% |
| Rhodes College | $28,585 | $21,761 | $66,651 | 85% |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | $18,976 | $20,500 | $60,249 | 74% |
| The University of the South | $27,872 | $22,855 | $64,911 | 80% |
| Union University | $27,171 | $20,714 | $53,990 | 66% |
| Belmont University | $33,147 | $20,500 | $55,930 | 71% |
| Milligan University | $21,365 | $25,219 | $46,641 | 63% |
| Tennessee Technological University | $14,246 | $15,650 | $48,501 | 58% |
| Middle Tennessee State University | $13,359 | $20,000 | $48,541 | 54% |
| East Tennessee State University | $15,983 | $19,442 | $44,859 | 53% |
| Southern Adventist University | $24,345 | $24,500 | $53,723 | 49% |
| Carson-Newman University | $20,251 | $21,500 | $48,382 | 53% |
| University of Memphis | $12,397 | $23,300 | $48,458 | 51% |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | $14,265 | $19,500 | $51,151 | 50% |
| Maryville College | $19,360 | $25,375 | $49,279 | 50% |
| Strayer University-Tennessee | $11,645 | $40,621 | $40,092 | 0% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 8
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 8
- California 54
- Colorado 14
- Connecticut 18
- District of Columbia 8
- Florida 22
- Georgia 15
- Hawaii 3
- Idaho 4
- Illinois 34
- Indiana 25
- Iowa 17
- Kansas 10
- Kentucky 13
- Louisiana 4
- Maine 5
- Maryland 15
- Massachusetts 39
- Michigan 24
- Minnesota 21
- Mississippi 5
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 7
- New Hampshire 6
- New Jersey 18
- New York 73
- North Carolina 25
- North Dakota 3
- Ohio 41
- Oklahoma 7
- Oregon 14
- Pennsylvania 53
- Rhode Island 7
- South Carolina 12
- South Dakota 5
- Texas 24
- Utah 7
- Vermont 4
- Virginia 27
- Washington 13
- West Virginia 7
- Wisconsin 19