Best Online Master’s Programs in Tennessee 2024

Badge for BEST ONLINE MASTER'S IN TENNESSEE

By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Academic Influence Staff

Published: May 11, 2022
Updated: Jan 24, 2024

Find the best online colleges in Tennessee ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs. Faculty and alumni with influential ideas are the foundation of respectable online degree programs employers can trust.

Top 10 Online Master's Programs in Tennessee

Vanderbilt University
University of Tennessee
University of Memphis
Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Lincoln Memorial University
Tennessee Tech
Lipscomb University
University of Tennessee at Martin

Vanderbilt University
University of Tennessee
University of Memphis
Tennessee State University
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
East Tennessee State University
Lipscomb University
Cumberland University
University of Tennessee at Martin
Lincoln Memorial University

University of Memphis 95%
Austin Peay State University 94%
Freed–Hardeman University 91%
Bethel University 89%
University of Tennessee at Martin 88%
East Tennessee State University 85%
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 83%
Tusculum University 81%
Carson–Newman University 80%
University of Tennessee Southern 80%

Trevecca Nazarene University 22 to 1
University of Tennessee 18 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
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 16 to 1
Cumberland University 16 to 1
Tusculum University 16 to 1
University of Tennessee at Martin 15 to 1

Vanderbilt University $60,348
Lipscomb University $37,152
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
Cumberland University $26,400
Lincoln Memorial University $25,180

Vanderbilt University $53,160
Tennessee Wesleyan University $20,870
Lincoln Memorial University $19,160
Lipscomb University $17,370
King University $14,181
Tusculum University $13,050
Union University $12,360
Southern Adventist University $12,150
University of Tennessee $11,468
Bethel University $11,448

University of Tennessee Southern
Tusculum University
Freed–Hardeman University
Bethel University
Johnson University
Trevecca Nazarene University
Tennessee Wesleyan University
Southern Adventist University
Carson–Newman University
Cumberland University

Bethel University
Freed–Hardeman University
Tusculum University
Johnson University
Southern Adventist University
Carson–Newman University
Bryan College
Tennessee Wesleyan University
University of Tennessee Southern
Trevecca Nazarene University

Vanderbilt University 7%
Union University 53%
King University 61%
Tennessee Wesleyan University 61%
Johnson University 63%
Cumberland University 66%
Southern Adventist University 66%
University of Tennessee 68%
Lipscomb University 71%
Trevecca Nazarene University 71%

Vanderbilt University 7 to 1
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
University of Tennessee Southern 12 to 1
Lipscomb University 13 to 1
Bryan College 13 to 1

Austin Peay State University $6,816
Tennessee State University $7,128
East Tennessee State University $7,486
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga $7,992
University of Memphis $8,352
University of Tennessee at Martin $8,378
Tennessee Tech $8,520
University of Tennessee Southern $10,200
University of Tennessee $11,332
Bethel University $17,482

Cumberland University $7,800
Austin Peay State University $8,226
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga $8,618
East Tennessee State University $8,784
University of Tennessee Southern $8,910
Carson–Newman University $9,207
University of Tennessee at Martin $9,278
Johnson University $9,285
University of Memphis $9,378
Tennessee State University $9,524

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

Online master’s degrees offered by respected colleges and universities are generally respected by employers. The main thing to consider about your online master’s choices is whether the school name is well known and respected. In many cases, employers won’t know your degree was earned online. But even if they do, a degree from a respected college is automatically to your benefit.

We rank the colleges and universities in this list by the influence of their alumni and faculty. For master’s degree students, including online master’s degree students, having faculty who are influential in your field matters a lot. It’s a big indicator that you have the chance to get a quality education. And, knowing that you will join an alumni association with some impressive people is nice, too.

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Master’s Degrees

An online master’s degree costs about $40,000 for the average grad student. However, the cost of your online master’s degree will depend on the type of grad school you attend. In 2018-2019, the average cost for a year of tuition in a public grad school was $12,171. The average cost for a year of tuition in private, non-profit grad school was $27,776. An online master’s degree will usually cost about the same as a traditional master’s degree. Some schools will charge 5-10% more for online courses. This added cost pays for the technology and specialized training needed for online instruction. But getting a master’s degree online can also help you save money. The costs above don’t include expenses like housing, transportation, or certain campus fees. As an online grad student, you can save a lot of money by avoiding these added expenses. Many online master’s degree programs are also accelerated. Most master’s degree programs are designed to be completed in two years. But you may be able to earn your online master’s degree in as little as 12-18 months. Earning an accelerated online master’s degree can save you money on tuition.

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.

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.

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.

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.

How do we determine Tennessee's best online master's degree programs?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

Best Online Master’s Program in Tennessee 2023

Students’ Submitted Questions on Best Online Master’s Programs in Tennessee

Mary asks, “How does the cost of an online program compare to traditional on-campus programs?”

Dr. James Barham’s answer: The cost comparison will vary based on several factors. Typically, online degree tuition fees are lower than their on-campus counterparts. Students will also not have to worry about commuting costs, meal plans, or housing costs (if they can live at home while working). Online students will typically have greater flexibility, meaning that they can work more than traditional students and hopefully pay off more schooling as they go along. Online students should be aware of fees such as technology fees, any educational subscriptions they might need, and other costs associated with the program.

JP asks, “How flexible are the course schedules for working professionals?”

Dr. Jed Macosko’s answer: Keep in mind that this will differ based on the program, but many online programs are asynchronous, meaning that students can access the lectures and assignments on their own time. Because of this, many people can work full time while earning their online degree. Additionally, it will most likely be possible to complete the degree part-time to ensure students have enough time to work during their course of study. Talk to the admissions office and look for information about the program online so that you can make sure that the program has the flexibility you need.

Jacoby asks, “How are final projects or theses managed in an online format?”

Dr. James Barham’s answer: Online programs will use digital tools and platforms to facilitate communication and research. Just like traditional students, online students will develop a topic or proposal and discuss it with their faculty advisor or a theses committee. Once they have received feedback, they will conduct research using digital libraries and online databases. As students create drafts or move along in their research, they will most likely have regular meetings with their advisor or committee. Finally, if the program requires a presentation or defense, this will typically take place on a video conference call. If not, students will submit their project digitally.

Tennessee is just one of many states offering excellent online master’s programs. To check out our rankings, look into the best online master’s programs in Kansas, Louisiana, Vermont, and more!

Tennessee’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest

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Best Online Master’s Programs in Tennessee 2024

Top 10 Online Master's Programs in Tennessee

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Tennessee

What are Tennessee’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Online Master’s Program in Tennessee 2023

Career Outlook for degree at Vanderbilt University

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Career Outlook for degree at University of Tennessee

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Career Outlook for degree at University of Memphis

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Career Outlook for degree at East Tennessee State University

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