Best Online MBA Programs in Tennessee

By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Academic Influence Staff

Published: Jun 3, 2022
Updated: Jan 25, 2024

Your most affordable online MBA options will usually be those offered in your home state. Find the online MBA program in Tennessee at a school you and employers will trust.

Key Takeaways

An online MBA program in Tennessee can open leadership role opportunities in accounting, finance, human resources, organizational administration.
The state of Tennessee has a number of key industries, perfectly positioning online MBA graduates for career advancement.
A number of the online MBA degree programs in Tennessee can be completed on a part-time basis, making the programs a viable option for busy working professionals.

University of Memphis
East Tennessee State University
University of Tennessee at Martin
Lincoln Memorial University
King University
Union University
Tennessee Tech
Trevecca Nazarene University
Tennessee Wesleyan University
Bryan College

University of Memphis 95%
Freed–Hardeman University 91%
Bethel University 89%
University of Tennessee at Martin 88%
East Tennessee State University 85%
Tusculum University 81%
Carson–Newman University 80%
Tennessee Tech 78%
Lincoln Memorial University 78%
Trevecca Nazarene University 71%

Trevecca Nazarene University 22 to 1
Tennessee Tech 18 to 1
University of Memphis 17 to 1
Bethel University 17 to 1
East Tennessee State University 16 to 1
Tusculum University 16 to 1
University of Tennessee at Martin 15 to 1
Bryan College 13 to 1
Freed–Hardeman University 13 to 1
King University 11 to 1

Union University $36,880
King University $33,784
Carson–Newman University $33,000
Trevecca Nazarene University $28,200
Tennessee Wesleyan University $27,350
Tusculum University $27,208
Lincoln Memorial University $25,180
Freed–Hardeman University $24,300
Johnson University $19,274
Bryan College $17,900

Tennessee Wesleyan University $20,870
Lincoln Memorial University $19,160
King University $14,181
Tusculum University $13,050
Union University $12,360
Bethel University $11,448
Freed–Hardeman University $11,430
Trevecca Nazarene University $11,424
Tennessee Tech $10,480
Bryan College $10,026

Tusculum University
Freed–Hardeman University
Bethel University
Johnson University
Trevecca Nazarene University
Carson–Newman University
Tennessee Wesleyan University
Union University
University of Tennessee at Martin
King University

Bethel University
Freed–Hardeman University
Tusculum University
Johnson University
Carson–Newman University
Bryan College
Tennessee Wesleyan University
Trevecca Nazarene University
Tennessee Tech
Union University

Union University 53%
King University 61%
Tennessee Wesleyan University 61%
Johnson University 63%
Trevecca Nazarene University 71%
Lincoln Memorial University 78%
Tennessee Tech 78%
Carson–Newman University 80%
Tusculum University 81%
East Tennessee State University 85%

Union University 8 to 1
Lincoln Memorial University 8 to 1
Johnson University 10 to 1
Tennessee Wesleyan University 10 to 1
Carson–Newman University 10 to 1
King University 11 to 1
Bryan College 13 to 1
Freed–Hardeman University 13 to 1
University of Tennessee at Martin 15 to 1
East Tennessee State University 16 to 1

East Tennessee State University $7,486
University of Memphis $8,352
University of Tennessee at Martin $8,378
Tennessee Tech $8,520
Bethel University $17,482
Bryan College $17,900
Johnson University $19,274
Freed–Hardeman University $24,300
Lincoln Memorial University $25,180
Tusculum University $27,208

East Tennessee State University $8,784
Carson–Newman University $9,207
University of Tennessee at Martin $9,278
Johnson University $9,285
University of Memphis $9,378
Bryan College $10,026
Tennessee Tech $10,480
Trevecca Nazarene University $11,424
Freed–Hardeman University $11,430
Bethel University $11,448

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Tennessee

About one third of the higher learning institutes in Tennessee are public schools. Students who attend these schools can expect to pay anywhere between $4,000 to $13,000 in tuition and have the option to pursue degrees in fields such as economics, history, nursing, literature, education, and criminal justice. Tennessee’s largest public school, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, boasts some impressive alumni, including Oprah Winfrey, Kurt Vonnegut, and Cormac McCarthy. The private school alumni are equally as notable. For example, author James Patterson and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Muhammad Yunus both attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

Tennessee also offers nearly 30 religiously affiliated schools, the largest being Belmont University in Nashville, located just blocks from the famous Music Row. Here, students can study a wide range of fields including Christian leadership, audio engineering technology, and biophysics. Additionally, Tennessee offers students several loan forgiveness programs. Math and science teachers, minority teachers, and registered nurses interested in becoming teachers or administrators who meet certain requirements may be eligible.

Tennessee is home to mouthwatering barbecues, electrified blues, and the sweeping majesty of the Smoky Mountains National Park. And with access to countless historic sites, unique museums, and lush green spaces, students attending one of the more than 60 colleges and universities in The Volunteer State will have plenty to do and see in their downtime.

Discover more about the top programs and higher education learning opportunities available in Tennessee.

What are Tennessee’s Colleges & Universities?

Tennessee’s Best Overall

What’s the Difference between an Online MBA and Traditional MBA?

Learn more about what you can do with an MBA.

How do we determine the best online MBA programs in Tennessee?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Best Online MBA Programs in Tennessee

Career Outlook for Students with MBA Degree

Go to Degree Finder tool

Business Administration And Management

Degree Level: Master's

Location: Tennessee (Private Schools)
Avg. Cost of Degree*: $11,374
Avg. Expenses*: $17,012
Avg. Starting Salary*: $70,819
Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $82,941
Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 5 years
Job Growth: 4.86%
Number of Jobs: 11,888,900
* denotes ‘annually’
** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

Career	Job Growth	Avg. Salary
Chief Executives	-8.21%	$163,380
Sales Managers	4.06%	$129,270
Computer and Information Systems Managers	15.41%	$128,720
Purchasing Managers	4.39%	$122,730
Compensation and Benefits Managers	1.71%	$115,840
Administrative Services Managers	5.62%	$109,450
General and Operations Managers	4.20%	$105,000
Human Resources Managers	5.22%	$104,180
Education Administrators, All Other	2.78%	$101,120
Industrial Production Managers	1.62%	$100,000

Average Career Salaries

Bottom 10%	Median	Top 10%
$47,988	$86,864	$151,005

Promising Job Markets

State	Cost of Living	Avg. Salary
#13 Tennessee	14% higher than average	$86,864
#2 New York	5% higher than average	$116,372
#3 Virginia	5% higher than average	$104,589
#4 Michigan	15% higher than average	$90,047
#5 Georgia	13% higher than average	$90,306
#6 Illinois	7% higher than average	$96,596
#7 Delaware	2% higher than average	$106,159
#8 Ohio	14% higher than average	$88,985
#9 New Jersey	13% higher than average	$116,786
#10 Alabama	13% higher than average	$89,100
#11 Missouri	16% higher than average	$86,291
#12 Texas	10% higher than average	$91,909
#13 Colorado	3% higher than average	$105,194
#14 Tennessee	14% higher than average	$86,864
#15 Minnesota	4% higher than average	$95,799
#16 Wisconsin	7% higher than average	$92,681
#17 Washington	7% higher than average	$105,360
#18 North Carolina	11% higher than average	$87,235
#19 Kansas	9% higher than average	$88,261
#20 Kentucky	14% higher than average	$82,807
#21 Indiana	11% higher than average	$85,766
#22 Pennsylvania	5% higher than average	$90,464
#23 South Carolina	8% higher than average	$87,188
#24 Louisiana	9% higher than average	$85,590
#25 Utah	4% higher than average	$90,368
#26 Oklahoma	13% higher than average	$81,069
#27 West Virginia	11% higher than average	$82,432
#28 Florida	6% higher than average	$87,100
#29 Nebraska	6% higher than average	$86,635
#30 Arizona	5% higher than average	$87,855
#31 New Mexico	7% higher than average	$84,955
#32 Arkansas	16% higher than average	$76,800
#33 Iowa	9% higher than average	$82,805
#34 South Dakota	7% higher than average	$84,133
#35 Rhode Island	20% higher than average	$108,149
#36 Connecticut	18% higher than average	$105,095
#37 Mississippi	18% higher than average	$72,688
#38 New Hampshire	13% higher than average	$98,866
#39 Maryland	18% higher than average	$102,544
#40 Massachusetts	24% higher than average	$106,805
#41 Wyoming	2% higher than average	$84,203
#42 California	26% higher than average	$107,572
#43 Montana	3% higher than average	$82,439
#44 North Dakota	average	$84,322
#45 Oregon	11% higher than average	$92,032
#46 Idaho	7% higher than average	$76,051
#47 District of Columbia	49% higher than average	$120,672
#48 Maine	9% higher than average	$85,124
#49 Alaska	23% higher than average	$95,250
#50 Vermont	13% higher than average	$87,431
#51 Nevada	5% higher than average	$79,841
#52 Hawaii	40% higher than average	$90,634

Top Industries

Industry	Avg. Salary
Chief Executives	$163,380
Sales Managers	$129,270
Computer and Information Systems Managers	$128,720
Purchasing Managers	$122,730
Compensation and Benefits Managers	$115,840
Administrative Services Managers	$109,450
General and Operations Managers	$105,000
Human Resources Managers	$104,180
Education Administrators, All Other	$101,120
Industrial Production Managers	$100,000

Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Department of Education College Scorecard, The Department of Education NCES, and The Council for Community and Economic Research.

While there are a number of excellent online MBA programs in Tennessee, students may choose to explore some of the online MBA programs in a neighboring state like Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia. An online education can be a great option no matter your state of residence.

Frequently Asked Questions About MBA Degrees

MBA degrees are the most popular advanced degree in American higher education. This versatile degree offers a variety of specializations that can help working professionals build leadership skills, expand their network, and enhance their overall business knowledge. MBA degrees are excellent options for anyone needing business fundamentals covered while having the chance to study more in a selected concentration. An MBA in Marketing is different than a MS in Marketing because the MBA degree doesn’t assume previous business education, whereas the MS program likely would.

Go to Online MBA programs with no GMAT requirements

The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a computer responsive test designed to assess certain analytical, writing, quantitative, verbal, and English reading skills used by graduate management programs, such as MBA programs, to assist with admissions selections.

The GMAT is still required by many graduate schools of all shapes and sizes – elite research universities, public universities, liberal arts colleges, online colleges, etc. There’s no real common denominator for which types of schools require the GMAT, or don’t.

If you are considering a graduate business school that requires the GMAT, then you certainly want to do well on the exam. Even if schools you’re considering don’t require it, you may want to take the test because a high score could still help your application, and because there may be another college that suddenly interests you, and it might require successful completion of the GMAT.

If you’re going to take the test, at minimum you’ll want to study with solid guidance provided by quality resources. People have many different opinions about which GMAT test prep resources are the best, therefore we recommend that you start looking at and comparing the best-selling GMAT test guides.

On the other end of the spectrum, if you are aspiring to be admitted into an elite university’s program, you may want to work with a graduate or business school admissions expert. An admissions consultant can give you the most customized information about your prospects and many will work with you on whatever specific need you might have – test prep, applications, personal essays, and even help with finding meaningful internships.

There is a growing number of high quality MBA programs that don’t require the GMAT. Furthermore, there are a lot of highly reputable colleges and universities offering online MBA programs that do not require the GMAT. If standardized testing simply isn’t a strength of yours, you may want to move your search to focus specifically on online MBA programs with no GMAT requirements.

Typically, online MBA degrees can be earned in about 2 years. However, specializations range from healthcare management to entrepreneurship to international business. Because MBAs offer so many educational paths, program requirements can vary greatly, from 30 to 60 credits, which means this degree may take anywhere between two and four years to complete.

MBA courses are available both online and on campus, and many programs require a thesis or professional experience component. Students will study topics like corporate law, organizational behavior, and negotiations. Most online MBA programs will be asynchronous for maximum flexibility. This means students watch lectures and read when they can, and likely join web forums for class discussions. While online MBA courses can be “self-paced”, there usually are still mid-term and end of term deadlines. Typical online MBA courses will have multiple deadlines throughout the semester for various assignments.

MBA graduates can advance to leadership roles in accounting, finance, human resources, organizational administration, and more. MBAs are popular because of their versatility. With so many choices of concentrations, your MBA can prepare you for leadership or executive roles in virtually any industry.

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

No. The only part of online education that’s easier is actually getting there. Taking the commute out of the equation means getting to class should be a lot more manageable. But that’s where it ends. In general, your online courses will incorporate the very same materials, concepts, and testing methods as would a traditional classroom.

And in many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning or working with remote learning technology for the first time, online college may even be a little more challenging for you. For a few insights on how to manage this new experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Best Online MBA Programs in Tennessee

Key Takeaways

Tennessee's Best Online MBA Programs

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Tennessee

What are Tennessee’s Colleges & Universities?

What’s the Difference between an Online MBA and Traditional MBA?

Best Online MBA Programs in Tennessee

Career Outlook for MBA degree at University of Memphis

Online Master’s Degrees

Career Outlook for MBA degree at East Tennessee State University

Online Master’s Degrees

Career Outlook for MBA degree at Bryan College

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for MBA degree at Lincoln Memorial University

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for MBA degree at Tennessee Tech

Online Master’s Degrees

Career Outlook for MBA degree at King University

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for MBA degree at University of Tennessee at Martin

Online Master’s Degrees

Career Outlook for MBA degree at Union University

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for MBA degree at Tennessee Wesleyan University

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for MBA degree at Carson–Newman University

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for MBA degree at Trevecca Nazarene University

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for MBA degree at Johnson University

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for MBA degree at Bethel University

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for MBA degree at Freed–Hardeman University

Online Master’s Degrees

Career Outlook for MBA degree at Tusculum University

Online Master’s Degrees

Career Outlook for Students with MBA Degree

Business Administration And Management

Degree Level: Master's

Career Salaries

Average Career Salaries

Promising Job Markets

Top Industries

Frequently Asked Questions About MBA Degrees

What is an MBA?

Do Online MBA Programs Require the GMAT?

How long does it take to get an MBA?

What are the courses like?

What can you do with an MBA?

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect from an online college course?+

Is online college easier?+

Why does accreditation matter in online college?+

Will I be able to transfer my online college degree?+

Will employers respect my online degree?+

What are the disadvantages of online classes?+

What are the advantages of online classes?+

Resources for Prospective Grad Students