From the Great Smoky Mountains in the east to Memphis in the west, Tennessee is home to dozens of colleges. Earning a college degree in Tennessee can prepare you for in-demand careers in business, healthcare, education, and other fields.
Online colleges in Tennessee can give you a flexible, affordable pathway to a degree. In an online learning format, you can take classes according to your schedule and compare costs to find a school that fits your budget.
Keep reading to learn more about the best online colleges in Tennessee.
Featured Online Bachelor's Degree Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Online Colleges in Tennessee
How We Rank Schools
To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.
Cost of College in Tennessee
How much will you pay for a college degree in Tennessee? The answer depends on the school and the number of credits you need to earn. In-state colleges typically charge the lowest tuition rates, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
The cost of Tennessee colleges varies widely, so make sure to research tuition rates, the total cost of a degree, and your financial aid opportunities. Online programs often charge a flat tuition rate regardless of where you live.
| Institution Type | Average Tuition & Required Fees |
|---|---|
| Public Four-Year (In-State) | $10,397 |
| Public Four-Year (Out-of-State) | $24,381 |
| Private Four-Year | $30,734 |
| Public Two-Year (In-State) | $4,459 |
| Public Two-Year (Out-of-State) | $17,209 |
10 Fast-Growing Jobs in Tennessee
Over the next decade, jobs for nurse practitioners, logisticians, and information security analysts are projected to grow in Tennessee — and these role also pay high wages.
Many of Tennessee's fastest-growing, highest-paying jobs require applicants to possess a college degree. Attending an online college in Tennessee can prepare you for careers in these in-demand fields.
For example, you can earn a bachelor's in mathematics or computer science to work as an information security analyst. The Tennessee Department of Labor projects this field will grow 32% from 2020-2030. Below are the top 10 fastest-growing individual jobs in Tennessee during this period.
| Job | Job Growth, 2020-2030 | Median Annual Wage, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Athletes and Sports Competitors | 6% | $41,464 |
| Cooks, Restaurants | 5% | $29,557 |
| Motion Picture Projectionists | 5% | $30,498 |
| Nurse Practitioners | 5% | $103,083 |
| Statisticians | 5% | $78,976 |
| Logisticians | 4% | $63,655 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 4% | $39,025 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | 4% | $38,049 |
| Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | 4% | $24,102 |
| Information Security Analysts | 4% | $95,737 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Colleges in Tennessee
The cheapest online colleges in Tennessee are Tennessee State University and Austin Peay State University. These public universities charge under $9,000 per year in tuition, according to 2023-2024 data from NCES.
Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed April 16, 2024.