Best colleges for computer science in Tennessee

    Vanderbilt University ranks first in Tennessee for computer science value (#16 nationally, value score 85.1): graduates earn $160,021 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $15,497 a year.

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition · Source: College Scorecard field of study, reporting year 2025 · 10 Tennessee colleges ranked · Updated November 4, 2026

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    Best computer science colleges in Tennessee

    Vanderbilt University ranks first in Tennessee for computer science value (#16 nationally, value score 85.1): graduates earn $160,021 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $15,497 a year. 10 Tennessee colleges qualify. At the median one, computer science graduates earn $86,426 and the average net price is $14,617 a year.

    Source: U.S. College Scorecard field of study, 2025

    What the data shows

    Key findings

    • 10 Tennessee colleges qualify. At the median one, computer science graduates earn $86,426 and the average net price is $14,617 a year.
    • The lowest average net price among them is at Austin Peay State University: $9,049 a year.
    Median earnings
    $86,426
    National: $97,375
    Median net price
    $14,617
    National: $16,804
    Median federal debt
    $18,025
    computer science graduates
    Public colleges
    8 of 10
    in this list

    10 colleges

    The Tennessee ranking

    Ordered by the national value score; the national rank is shown with each college. Earnings are medians 4 years after the bachelor's degree.

    1. Rank in Tennessee 1

      Vanderbilt University

      Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit · #16 nationally

      85.1Value
      Earnings
      $160,021
      Net price
      $15,497
      Federal debt
      $15,000
      Graduation rate
      93%
    2. Rank in Tennessee 2

      The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

      Knoxville, TN · Public · #114 nationally

      63.4Value
      Earnings
      $106,312
      Net price
      $18,314
      Federal debt
      $15,000
      Graduation rate
      74%
    3. Rank in Tennessee 3

      Middle Tennessee State University

      Murfreesboro, TN · Public · #191 nationally

      55.9Value
      Earnings
      $96,485
      Net price
      $12,562
      Federal debt
      $16,844
      Graduation rate
      54%
    4. Rank in Tennessee 4

      University of Memphis

      Memphis, TN · Public · #238 nationally

      48.4Value
      Earnings
      $90,207
      Net price
      $12,192
      Federal debt
      $18,250
      Graduation rate
      53%
    5. Rank in Tennessee 5

      Tennessee Technological University

      Cookeville, TN · Public · #277 nationally

      43.5Value
      Earnings
      $90,521
      Net price
      $16,830
      Federal debt
      $17,800
      Graduation rate
      56%
    6. Rank in Tennessee 6

      The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

      Chattanooga, TN · Public · #320 nationally

      38.7Value
      Earnings
      $82,644
      Net price
      $15,026
      Federal debt
      $17,625
      Graduation rate
      56%
    7. Rank in Tennessee 7

      East Tennessee State University

      Johnson City, TN · Public · #343 nationally

      35.6Value
      Earnings
      $82,073
      Net price
      $14,208
      Federal debt
      $20,000
      Graduation rate
      55%
    8. Rank in Tennessee 8

      Austin Peay State University

      Clarksville, TN · Public · #396 nationally

      29.8Value
      Earnings
      $77,125
      Net price
      $9,049
      Federal debt
      $26,625
      Graduation rate
      42%
    9. Rank in Tennessee 9

      Rhodes College

      Memphis, TN · Private nonprofit · #414 nationally

      27.0Value
      Earnings
      $78,973
      Net price
      $28,776
      Federal debt
      $19,500
      Graduation rate
      81%
    10. Rank in Tennessee 10

      Tennessee State University

      Nashville, TN · Public · #440 nationally

      22.3Value
      Earnings
      $67,292
      Net price
      $12,154
      Federal debt
      $25,125
      Graduation rate
      34%

    Method: the same value score as the national computer science ranking (earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate, each a national percentile). Data: College Scorecard, reporting year 2025; 2026–27 edition, verified Nov 2026.

    Questions about computer science colleges in Tennessee

    What are the best colleges for computer science in Tennessee?

    By CollegesRef value score, the top 3 Tennessee colleges for computer science are Vanderbilt University (value score 85.1), The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (value score 63.4) and Middle Tennessee State University (value score 55.9). The score weighs graduate earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate.

    Which Tennessee college has the highest earnings for computer science graduates?

    Vanderbilt University: its computer science graduates have median earnings of $160,021 4 years after the bachelor's degree.

    What is the most affordable computer science college in Tennessee on this list?

    Austin Peay State University has the lowest average net price of the ranked Tennessee colleges, $9,049 a year after grants. A family's own price depends on income and aid.

    How many Tennessee colleges are ranked for computer science?

    10 Tennessee colleges have a computer science bachelor's program with enough graduates and reported earnings, plus a published net price and graduation rate. Ranks shown are national; the state rank is their order within Tennessee.