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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Accounting Schools in Tennessee

18 Colleges in the United States
981 Accounting Degrees Awarded
$54,719 Avg Early-Career Salary

Accounting degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their accounting programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 36 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for accounting students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Accounting in Tennessee

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall accounting education in Tennessee.

Top Schools in Accounting

1
Vanderbilt University crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in accounting. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. About 94% of students finish within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 39 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,802 early in their careers. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. More information about a degree in accounting from Vanderbilt University

2

A rank of #2 makes The University Of Tennessee one of the top schools for accounting. This very large public university is located in the city of Knoxville. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. The University Of Tennessee awarded about 212 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $61,638 early in their careers. The University Of Tennessee graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. See the full accounting program report for The University Of Tennessee

3
Belmont University crest
Belmont University
Nashville, TN

Belmont University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in accounting, ranking #3. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 33 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Belmont University in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of Belmont University earn a median of $69,471 early in their careers. Belmont University graduates carry a median of $23,447 in student loans. Read more about the accounting program at Belmont University

4

A rank of #4 makes Middle Tennessee State University one of the top schools for accounting. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 179 accounting degrees were awarded at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Middle Tennessee State University earn around $61,029 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,553 to complete this degree. Get the full accounting details for Middle Tennessee State University

5

The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in accounting, ranking #5. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 69 accounting degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga in the most recent year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $50,000 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,324 to complete this degree. Read more about the accounting program at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga

6

Tennessee Technological University earned the #6 position for accounting this year. Set in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 56 accounting degrees were awarded at Tennessee Technological University in the most recent year. Accounting graduates of Tennessee Technological University earn a median of $41,530 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,000. See the full accounting program report for Tennessee Technological University

7
Lipscomb University crest
Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN

Lipscomb University earned the #7 position for accounting this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. About 72% of students finish within six years. Lipscomb University awarded about 28 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of Lipscomb University earn a median of $66,833 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,732 to complete this degree. Read more about the accounting program at Lipscomb University

8

The University Of Tennessee Martin ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Martin. The University Of Tennessee Martin graduates 52% of students within six years. The University Of Tennessee Martin awarded about 25 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of The University Of Tennessee Martin earn a median of $48,101 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,875 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in accounting from The University Of Tennessee Martin

9
Lee University crest
Lee University
Cleveland, TN

Lee University landed the #9 spot for accounting this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 63% of students finish within six years. Lee University awarded about 19 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Lee University generally make around $53,577. Lee University graduates carry a median of $16,750 in student loans. See the full accounting program report for Lee University

10

East Tennessee State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 62 accounting degrees were awarded at East Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their accounting degree from East Tennessee State University earn around $51,297 in the first couple years of their career. East Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans. More information about a degree in accounting from East Tennessee State University

11
Union University crest
Union University
Jackson, TN

Union University came in at #11 for accounting this year. Set in the city of Jackson, Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Union University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Union University generally make around $68,508. Typical student debt for the program is $28,605. Get the full accounting details for Union University

12

Trevecca Nazarene University came in at #12 for accounting this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Trevecca Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of Trevecca Nazarene University earn a median of $52,004 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,962 to complete this degree. See the full accounting program report for Trevecca Nazarene University

13

University Of Memphis ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best accounting schools. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. University Of Memphis graduates 51% of students within six years. About 106 accounting degrees were awarded at University Of Memphis in the most recent year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $59,002 in their early career. University Of Memphis graduates carry a median of $26,975 in student loans. Read more about the accounting program at University Of Memphis

14

Cumberland University placed #14 among the best accounting schools. Located in the town of Lebanon, Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Cumberland University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Cumberland University earn around $47,696 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,902. Get the full accounting details for Cumberland University

15

Pellissippi State Community College placed #15 among the best accounting schools. Set in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public institution. About 31 accounting degrees were awarded at Pellissippi State Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Pellissippi State Community College generally make around $43,816. Typical student debt for the program is $8,951. Read more about the accounting program at Pellissippi State Community College

16

Austin Peay State University placed #16 among the best accounting schools. Located in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public university. About 39% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Austin Peay State University in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of Austin Peay State University earn a median of $37,566 early in their careers. Austin Peay State University graduates carry a median of $21,588 in student loans. Get the full accounting details for Austin Peay State University

17

Nashville State Community College came in at #17 for accounting this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Nashville. Nashville State Community College awarded about 23 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of Nashville State Community College earn a median of $41,456 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,745. Get the full accounting details for Nashville State Community College

18

Tennessee State University placed #18 among the best accounting schools. Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Nashville. Tennessee State University graduates 35% of students within six years. Tennessee State University awarded about 15 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Tennessee State University earn around $53,620 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,250 to complete this degree. See the full accounting program report for Tennessee State University

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 36 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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