Cheapest Business Administration Colleges in Tennessee

Tennessee State University manages to deliver business education at just $10,026 net cost while placing graduates into jobs earning $39,369 annually. This public option in Nashville sits at the heart of Tennessee's healthcare and automotive manufacturing sectors, where HCA and Nissan create thousands of management positions each year. The state's 20 business programs split dramatically between ultra-affordable public options under $16,000 and private colleges that can exceed $37,000 in published tuition. Le Moyne-Owen College claims the lowest net price at $8,992, though its 24.70% graduation rate raises questions about completion success. Meanwhile, Tennessee's no-state-income-tax policy means business graduates keep more of their starting salaries, which range from $23,340 to $55,590 across these programs. The Tennessee Promise program covers community college costs, creating a pathway for students to complete prerequisites before transferring to four-year business programs.

Programs

$8,992 – $32,096

Net Price Range

$38,130

Avg. Program Earnings

51.5%

Avg. Graduation Rate

38 Business Administration, Management and Operations Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Le Moyne-Owen College Memphis, Tennessee	$8,992	$12,076	24.7%	99.6%
2	Tennessee State University Nashville, Tennessee	$10,026	$8,568	33.0%
3	The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin, Tennessee	$10,299	$10,208	54.8%	88.4%
4	Christian Brothers University Memphis, Tennessee	$10,896	$37,300	56.0%	87.5%
5	Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, Tennessee	$12,599	$9,506	54.0%	72.5%
6	The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga, Tennessee	$12,817	$10,144	53.1%	82.7%
7	University of Memphis Memphis, Tennessee	$13,253	$10,344	49.4%	94.6%
8	Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, Tennessee	$14,207	$10,084	54.2%	78.1%
9	Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville, Tennessee	$14,459	$29,790	54.8%	70.9%
10	Lane College Jackson, Tennessee	$14,494	$11,790	17.0%
11	Austin Peay State University Clarksville, Tennessee	$14,846	$8,675	44.5%	93.8%
12	Tennessee Wesleyan University Athens, Tennessee	$14,879	$29,264	43.6%	60.7%
13	The University of Tennessee Southern Pulaski, Tennessee	$15,133	$10,506	35.7%	80.3%
14	East Tennessee State University Johnson City, Tennessee	$15,794	$9,950	49.9%	85.3%
15	Bryan College-Dayton Dayton, Tennessee	$16,494	$18,900	55.9%
16	South College Knoxville, Tennessee	$17,182	$17,935	36.7%
17	Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate, Tennessee	$17,999	$26,150	53.9%	78.5%
18	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, Tennessee	$18,109	$13,484	73.5%	68.4%
19	Cumberland University Lebanon, Tennessee	$18,292	$27,840	47.0%	66.2%
20	Strayer University-Tennessee Memphis, Tennessee	$18,466	$13,920
21	Carson-Newman University Jefferson City, Tennessee	$18,661	$34,700	46.4%	79.8%
22	Welch College Gallatin, Tennessee	$19,983	$20,796	61.4%
23	Freed-Hardeman University Henderson, Tennessee	$20,082	$25,000	68.4%	91.2%
24	Johnson University Knoxville, Tennessee	$20,303	$20,318	62.2%	63.2%
25	Lee University Cleveland, Tennessee	$20,399	$22,690	60.7%	72.6%
26	Maryville College Maryville, Tennessee	$20,986	$38,514	47.2%	69.5%
27	Milligan University Milligan, Tennessee	$21,131	$39,350	60.3%	66.7%
28	Bethel University McKenzie, Tennessee	$21,803	$18,168	34.9%	88.8%
29	Williamson Christian College Franklin, Tennessee	$22,721	$15,010	50.0%
30	Tusculum University Greeneville, Tennessee	$22,874	$28,500	30.5%	81.1%
31	King University Bristol, Tennessee	$23,508	$34,800	46.4%	60.8%
32	Southern Adventist University Collegedale, Tennessee	$24,334	$25,590	51.4%	65.8%
33	Rhodes College Memphis, Tennessee	$25,060	$54,892	81.6%	53.9%
34	Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga Chattanooga, Tennessee	$25,266		55.9%
35	Lipscomb University Nashville, Tennessee	$25,610	$38,824	68.7%	71.1%
36	Fisk University Nashville, Tennessee	$26,135	$24,298	43.5%	71.0%
37	Union University Jackson, Tennessee	$26,815	$38,450	70.9%	52.6%
38	Belmont University Nashville, Tennessee	$32,096	$41,320	71.7%	96.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What accounts for the $30,000 gap between the cheapest and most expensive business programs?

Le Moyne-Owen College costs just $8,992 net while some private colleges charge over $37,000 in tuition. Public universities like UT-Martin and Tennessee State keep costs low through state funding, with net prices around $10,000-$10,300. Private colleges often discount heavily from published prices, but still end up costing significantly more than public options.

How do graduation rates correlate with program costs in Tennessee business schools?

The cheapest option, Le Moyne-Owen at $8,992, graduates only 24.70% of students. Mid-range public universities like UT-Chattanooga ($12,817) achieve 53.10% graduation rates. Christian Brothers University costs $10,896 net but delivers a 56% graduation rate, suggesting some private colleges offer better value despite higher sticker prices.

Does Tennessee's job market support the 20 business programs across the state?

Tennessee hosts HCA Healthcare headquarters in Nashville and major automotive plants including Nissan and Volkswagen, creating substantial management demand. Graduates earn between $23,340 and $55,590, with most public university graduates landing in the $32,000-$39,000 range. The state's no-income-tax policy means graduates keep more of their earnings compared to neighboring states.

Where do Tennessee business graduates struggle most with debt burden?

Lane College graduates carry $34,025 in debt while earning just $23,340 annually, creating a challenging debt-to-income ratio. Tennessee State graduates manage $27,968 in debt against $39,369 earnings, a more manageable 71% ratio. Public universities typically produce debt loads between $17,000-$22,000, aligning better with starting salaries.

Is Tennessee State University the best value among affordable business programs?

Tennessee State costs $10,026 net and produces graduates earning $39,369 with manageable debt of $27,968. Its 33% graduation rate trails other public options like UT-Martin (54.80%) and Tennessee Tech (54.20%). For pure affordability with better completion rates, UT-Martin at $10,299 net offers stronger value despite slightly lower earnings of $34,526.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.