2026 Best Value Organizational Leadership Schools in Tennessee
[Organizational Leadership](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-administration-and-management/organizational-leadership/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for organizational leadership students.
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2026 Best Value Organizational Leadership Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the organizational leadership degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Organizational Leadership Schools
For return on investment in organizational leadership, no school beat The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga this year. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public school located in the city of Chattanooga. In-state tuition and fees average $10,448, with out-of-state students paying around $18,512. Organizational Leadership graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Early-career organizational leadership graduates make about $63,694. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Tennessee Technological University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in organizational leadership, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,376, compared with $15,576 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for organizational leadership graduates is $18,485. Early-career organizational leadership graduates make about $56,377. Set against $18,485 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in organizational leadership will find it at Trevecca Nazarene University, which ranked #3. Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,300. Organizational Leadership graduates carry a median of $24,774 in student loans. Early-career organizational leadership graduates make about $55,854. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Trevecca Nazarene University admits about 69% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Austin Peay State University one of the best values for organizational leadership. Austin Peay State University is a large public school located in the city of Clarksville. In-state tuition and fees average $9,006, with out-of-state students paying around $14,766. Typical student debt for organizational leadership graduates is $22,605. Early-career organizational leadership graduates make about $38,750. Set against $22,605 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
East Tennessee State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value organizational leadership schools. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,216, compared with $13,726 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for organizational leadership graduates is $19,725. Early-career organizational leadership graduates make about $50,465. That is a strong return on a $19,725 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Bryan College Dayton placed #6 among the best values for organizational leadership. Located in the town of Dayton, Bryan College Dayton is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $19,800. Typical student debt for organizational leadership graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, organizational leadership degree recipients from Bryan College Dayton generally make around $52,430. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt.
South College placed #7 among the best values for organizational leadership. Located in the city of Knoxville, South College is a large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $18,535 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for organizational leadership graduates is $24,533. Organizational Leadership graduates of South College earn a median of $51,389 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,533 median debt.
Vanderbilt University landed the #8 spot for organizational leadership value this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Typical student debt for organizational leadership graduates is $13,975. Organizational Leadership graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $149,786 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Carson Newman College earned the #9 position for value in organizational leadership this year. Carson Newman College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Jefferson City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,700. Typical student debt for organizational leadership graduates is $22,477. Early-career organizational leadership graduates make about $48,797. That is a strong return on a $22,477 median debt. Carson Newman College admits about 90% of applicants.
Strayer University Tennessee ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value organizational leadership schools. Set in the city of Memphis, Strayer University Tennessee is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,920. Typical student debt for organizational leadership graduates is $45,932. Organizational Leadership graduates of Strayer University Tennessee earn a median of $64,745 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $45,932 median debt.
Johnson University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value organizational leadership schools. Set in the rural area of Knoxville, Johnson University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $21,122 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,750 to complete the organizational leadership program here. Soon after graduation, organizational leadership degree recipients from Johnson University generally make around $30,767. Set against $21,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Johnson University admits about 65% of applicants.
Bethel University Tennessee earned the #12 position for value in organizational leadership this year. Bethel University Tennessee is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of McKenzie. Students from in state pay about $18,712 in tuition and fees. Organizational Leadership graduates carry a median of $40,408 in student loans. Early-career organizational leadership graduates make about $49,106. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Lipscomb University earned the #13 position for value in organizational leadership this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,572. Organizational Leadership graduates carry a median of $27,250 in student loans. Organizational Leadership graduates of Lipscomb University earn a median of $60,440 early in their careers. Set against $27,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Union University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value organizational leadership schools. Located in the city of Jackson, Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,398. Typical student debt for organizational leadership graduates is $33,333. Organizational Leadership graduates of Union University earn a median of $67,515 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $33,333 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
