2026 Best Value Finance & Financial Management Schools in Tennessee

[Finance & Financial Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/finance-financial-management/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for finance & financial management students.
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2026 Best Value Finance & Financial Management Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the finance & financial management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Finance & Financial Management Schools
The University Of Tennessee Martin tops our 2026 list of the best value finance & financial management schools in Tennessee. The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Martin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,560, while out-of-state students pay about $16,600. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee Martin generally make around $45,325. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
A rank of #2 makes Middle Tennessee State University one of the best values for finance & financial management. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. Students from in state pay about $10,266 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,700 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $46,505 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,448, with out-of-state students paying around $18,512. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $23,324. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $50,000. Set against $23,324 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Tennessee Technological University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. Tennessee Technological University is a large public school located in the town of Cookeville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,376, with out-of-state students paying around $15,576. Students borrow a median of $16,087 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $41,176. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Memphis earned it the #5 place for finance & financial management. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,728, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $44,395. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
Austin Peay State University placed #6 among the best values for finance & financial management. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,006, compared with $14,766 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Austin Peay State University earn a median of $48,264 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
East Tennessee State University landed the #7 spot for finance & financial management value this year. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,216, compared with $13,726 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,125 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $39,936. That is a strong return on a $18,125 median debt. East Tennessee State University admits about 86% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee came in at #8 for value in finance & financial management this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,812 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $53,826. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Lee University placed #9 among the best values for finance & financial management. Set in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $23,790 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,422 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Lee University earn a median of $38,249 early in their careers. Set against $26,422 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Adventist University came in at #10 for value in finance & financial management this year. Located in the suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,300. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $25,498. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $61,366. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Adventist University admits about 66% of applicants.
Lipscomb University came in at #11 for value in finance & financial management this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,572. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Lipscomb University earn a median of $48,949 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Sewanee The University Of The South earned the #12 position for value in finance & financial management this year. Located in the rural area of Sewanee, Sewanee The University Of The South is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $56,120 in tuition and fees. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $22,091 in student loans. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Sewanee The University Of The South earn a median of $36,927 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,091 median debt. Sewanee The University Of The South admits about 57% of applicants.
Belmont University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $42,540. Students borrow a median of $23,447 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $49,699. That is a strong return on a $23,447 median debt. Belmont University admits about 95% of applicants.
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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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.