Best Business Programs in Tennessee for 2027

Business programs in Tennessee have two rankings on this site so far, Master's in Accounting and Bachelor's in Entrepreneurship, drawn from 15 programs analyzed. Of the ten schools ranked, four are public and six private, and one offers the program online. Accounting is the deepest field, with 10 ranked programs, all at the master's level. In-state tuition among the ranked undergraduate programs runs from $8,204 at Middle Tennessee State University to $40,560 at Belmont University, a spread of $32,356 a year. Two of the five schools charge in-state students under $10,000 a year.

Lipscomb University, Middle Tennessee State University, Belmont University, and The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga appear in more of Tennessee's rankings than any other school, two each. Pay runs below the national figure: 27,340 accountants and auditors in Tennessee earn a median of $76,840 (BLS, May 2025), $6,840 less than the national median; the accountant salary guide compares every state.

By enrollment, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is the biggest school among the business programs in Tennessee (38,728 students). For finishing, Vanderbilt University leads with a 94% graduation rate. Admission is hardest at Rhodes College, which takes 50% of applicants. For distance study, look at University of Memphis and The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.