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2023 Best Bachelor's Degree Trade Schools in Tennessee
There are so many trade school programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Best Bachelor's Degree Trade Schools in Tennessee to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 19 schools in Tennessee to see which bachelor's degree programs offered the best educational experiences for trade school students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Trade Bachelor's Degree Schools in Tennessee
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Tennessee Technological University the best school in Tennessee for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. Tennessee Tech University is a public institution located in Cookeville, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,970 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $9,802 in tuition and fees if they attend Tennessee Tech University full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $19,834. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Tennessee Tech University accumulate an average of $16,987 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Tennessee Tech University does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 78% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Trevecca Nazarene University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in Tennessee. TNU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 419 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $28,500 to cover tuition and fees at TNU. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from TNU accumulate an average of $19,112 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at TNU. In 2020-2021 about 22% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend King University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Tennessee list. King is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bristol, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 469 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $33,784 to cover tuition and fees at King. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $24,442 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at King. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 70% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Tennessee list. UT Chattanooga is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,039 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
Full-time students from Tennessee pay an average of $9,848 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend UT Chattanooga. Out-of-state students pay an average of $25,966. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,129 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UT Chattanooga does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 69% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Lipscomb University is a great place for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 711 students in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Lipscomb, expect to pay an average of $37,152 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Lipscomb accumulate an average of $22,293 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Lipscomb does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2020-2021 year, about 49% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
University of Memphis came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Tennessee ranking. Memphis, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 3,132 students in 2021-2022.
Students from Tennessee who attend UofM full time pay an average of $10,056 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $14,280. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,091 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UofM does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 57% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #7 on the list. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a large public school located in Knoxville, Tennessee that handed out 5,533 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $13,244 in tuition and fees if they attend UT Knoxville full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $31,664. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,621 in student loans.
UT Knoxville does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 49% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Union University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Tennessee list. Located in Jackson, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 540 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Union is $19,363. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Union accumulate an average of $23,725 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Union does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2020-2021 year, about 29% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Middle Tennessee State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #9 on the list. Middle Tennessee State University is a large public school situated in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It awarded 3,709 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Middle Tennessee State University is $9,232. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $28,264. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,226 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Middle Tennessee State University, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 44% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Austin Peay State University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree trade school programs. Located in Clarksville, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,568 bachelor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $8,431 in tuition and fees if they attend Austin Peay State University full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $13,975. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Austin Peay State University accumulate an average of $22,984 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Austin Peay State University does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 59% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Lincoln Memorial University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #11 on the list. LMU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Harrogate, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 330 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at LMU is $25,180. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from LMU accumulate an average of $19,729 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
LMU does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 62% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #12, Southern Adventist University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. Southern Adventist is a private not-for-profit institution located in Collegedale, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 385 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Southern Adventist is $23,870. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $25,204 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Southern Adventist. In 2020-2021 about 39% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #13, East Tennessee State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. ETSU is located in Johnson City, Tennessee and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,519 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
Full-time students from Tennessee pay an average of $9,438 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend ETSU. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,740. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from ETSU accumulate an average of $20,906 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
ETSU does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 64% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Cumberland University landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree trade school programs. CU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lebanon, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 279 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
CU does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $26,400. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $18,893 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at CU. In fact, around 0% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Lee University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Tennessee list. Lee University is located in Cleveland, Tennessee and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 933 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $21,730 to cover tuition and fees at Lee University. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Lee University accumulate an average of $25,797 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Lee University. During the 2020-2021 year, about 20% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Bethel University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #16 on the list. Located in McKenzie, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 411 bachelor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.
Bethel does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $16,871. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,676 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Bethel does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 59% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Tennessee State University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree trade school programs. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school handed out 795 bachelor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Tennessee State University is $8,336. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $21,692. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $26,816 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Tennessee State University. In 2020-2021 about 48% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Daymar College - Clarksville did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #18 on the list. Daymar College - Clarksville is a private for-profit institution located in Clarksville, Tennessee. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 8 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Daymar College - Clarksville accumulate an average of $30,255 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Daymar College - Clarksville. During the 2020-2021 year, about 99% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Daymar College - Nashville ranked #19 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Tennessee list.
On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $30,255 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Best Trade Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 19 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.