Best colleges for engineering in Tennessee
Vanderbilt University ranks first in Tennessee for engineering value (#13 nationally, value score 84.1): graduates earn $116,662 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 · 7 Tennessee colleges ranked · Updated November 4, 2026
Best engineering colleges in Tennessee
Vanderbilt University ranks first in Tennessee for engineering value (#13 nationally, value score 84.1): graduates earn $116,662 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $15,497 a year. 7 Tennessee colleges qualify. At the median one, engineering graduates earn $90,623 and the average net price is $15,497 a year.
Source: U.S. College Scorecard field of study, 2025
What the data shows
Key findings
- 7 Tennessee colleges qualify. At the median one, engineering graduates earn $90,623 and the average net price is $15,497 a year.
- The lowest average net price among them is at University of Memphis: $12,192 a year.
- Median earnings
- $90,623
- National: $91,742
- Median net price
- $15,497
- National: $17,499
- Median federal debt
- $21,423
- engineering graduates
- Public colleges
- 5 of 7
- in this list
7 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.
- Earnings
- $116,662
- Net price
- $15,497
- Federal debt
- Not reported
- Graduation rate
- 93%
- Rank in Tennessee 2
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN · Public · #142 nationally
51.1Value- Earnings
- $92,533
- Net price
- $12,562
- Federal debt
- $23,682
- Graduation rate
- 54%
- Rank in Tennessee 3
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · Public · #144 nationally
51.1Value- Earnings
- $90,623
- Net price
- $18,314
- Federal debt
- $18,750
- Graduation rate
- 74%
- Rank in Tennessee 4
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · Public · #188 nationally
45.0Value- Earnings
- $89,407
- Net price
- $15,026
- Federal debt
- $19,531
- Graduation rate
- 56%
- Earnings
- $93,990
- Net price
- $23,178
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Graduation rate
- 71%
- Earnings
- $89,516
- Net price
- $12,192
- Federal debt
- $23,315
- Graduation rate
- 53%
- Rank in Tennessee 7
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN · Public · #247 nationally
35.8Value- Earnings
- $84,267
- Net price
- $16,830
- Federal debt
- $15,750
- Graduation rate
- 56%
Method: the same value score as the national engineering 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 engineering colleges in Tennessee
What are the best colleges for engineering in Tennessee?
By CollegesRef value score, the top 3 Tennessee colleges for engineering are Vanderbilt University (value score 84.1), Middle Tennessee State University (value score 51.1) and The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (value score 51.1). The score weighs graduate earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate.
Which Tennessee college has the highest earnings for engineering graduates?
Vanderbilt University: its engineering graduates have median earnings of $116,662 4 years after the bachelor's degree.
What is the most affordable engineering college in Tennessee on this list?
University of Memphis has the lowest average net price of the ranked Tennessee colleges, $12,192 a year after grants. A family's own price depends on income and aid.
How many Tennessee colleges are ranked for engineering?
7 Tennessee colleges have a engineering 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.