Best colleges for Accounting and Related Services in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Middle Tennessee State University and University of Memphis are the top bachelor's Accounting and Related Services programs in Tennessee by graduate earnings. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,197, College Scorecard. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, University of Memphis and Middle Tennessee State University award the most Accounting and Related Services degrees in Tennessee: 260, 115 and 105 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 33 Tennessee colleges offer Accounting and Related Services and award 1,138 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Accounting and Related Services program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of accounting principles and practices. This program is designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career in accounting, auditing, or…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,197 | 260 | 74% | — | $22,000 |
| 2 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,963 | 105 | 54% | — | $24,553 |
| 3 | University of Memphis Memphis Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,425 | 115 | 51% | — | $26,975 |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,101 | 33 | 53% | — | $20,875 |
| 5 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,834 | 71 | 53% | — | $19,250 |
| 6 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,530 | 44 | 58% | — | $17,000 |
| 7 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,566 | 34 | 40% | — | $21,588 |
| 8 | Tennessee State University Nashville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $53,620 | 15 | 34% | — | $29,250 |
| 9 | Lee University Cleveland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $53,577 | 15 | 63% | $18,918 | $16,750 |
| 10 | Strayer University - Tennessee Nashville Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $52,373 | 24 | 0% | $18,466 | $54,989 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miller-Motte College - Chattanooga Chattanooga Private for-profit · Certificate Online Small program | $20,789 | 1 | 60% | $26,425 | $9,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Accounting and Related Services degrees in Tennessee
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public | 260 | $53,197 |
| 2 | University of Memphis Memphis Public | 115 | $51,425 |
| 3 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public | 105 | $51,963 |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public | 77 | Not reported |
| 5 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public | 71 | $44,834 |
| 6 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Public | 44 | $41,530 |
| 7 | Lipscomb University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 42 | Not reported |
| 8 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 37 | Not reported |
| 9 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public | 34 | $37,566 |
| 10 | The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin Public | 33 | $48,101 |
ShowHide the other 23 Tennessee colleges offering Accounting and Related Services
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville State Community College | Nashville | Public | 32 |
| Pellissippi State Community College | Knoxville | Public | 31 |
| South College | Knoxville | Private for-profit | 25 |
| Freed-Hardeman University | Henderson | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| Strayer University - Tennessee (Online) | Nashville | Private for-profit | 24 |
| Cumberland University | Lebanon | Private not-for-profit | 22 |
| Union University | Jackson | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Lee University | Cleveland | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | Athens | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville | Public | 15 |
| Maryville College | Maryville | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Christian Brothers University | Memphis | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Rhodes College | Memphis | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College | Memphis | Public | 10 |
| King University | Bristol | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| The University of Tennessee Southern | Pulaski | Public | 6 |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Northeast State Community College | Blountville | Public | 6 |
| Carson-Newman University | Jefferson City | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Bethel University | McKenzie | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Milligan University | Milligan | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Miller-Motte College - Chattanooga (Online) | Chattanooga | Private for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Accountants and Auditors (SOC 13-2011).
Top skills
What Accountants and Auditors earn in Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Accounting and Related Services programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Accounting and Related Services degrees?+
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (260 graduates a year), University of Memphis (115 graduates a year) and Middle Tennessee State University (105 graduates a year) award the most Accounting and Related Services degrees in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 33 Tennessee colleges offer Accounting and Related Services.
What is the best college for Accounting and Related Services in Tennessee?+
By graduate earnings, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville leads among bachelor's Accounting and Related Services programs in Tennessee, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,197, College Scorecard. Middle Tennessee State University and University of Memphis follow. By degrees awarded, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is the largest, with 260 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Accounting and Related Services program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville tops the list at $53,197. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Accountants and Auditors earn in Tennessee?+
The average annual wage for Accountants and Auditors in Tennessee is $82,260 (median $76,840), across about 27,340 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Accounting and Related Services program?+
The Accounting and Related Services program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of accounting principles and practices. This program is designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career in accounting, auditing, or…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Accountants and Auditors?+
The national job outlook is about +4.6% growth with around 124,200 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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