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# Best Public Administration Colleges in Tennessee (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

This page ranks the 17 colleges in Tennessee that report a Public Administration earnings cohort, ordered by the median earnings of Public Administration graduates four years after completing. [Vanderbilt University](/school/vanderbilt-university/majors/) ranks 1st on this list with median earnings of $91,265 four years after completing.

Across the 16 schools with a published figure, earnings range from $91,265 to $29,685, with a median of $46,390. For 1 of the 17 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

The list includes 8 public and 9 private nonprofit institutions. Vanderbilt University ranks 62nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and it also posts the highest six-year completion rate on the page at 94%.

Austin Peay State University reports the lowest average net price at $9,735, while King University admits 100% of applicants.

## The ranked list

17 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Median Public Administration Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Vanderbilt University · Nashville, TN | $91,265 | $15,846 | $3,414 | 5.9% |
|  | [Vanderbilt University](/school/vanderbilt-university/majors/) reports [$91,265 in median earnings](/school/vanderbilt-university/outcomes/) of Public Administration graduates four years after completing alongside a 94% six-year completion rate. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Public Policy Analysis (42 graduates) |
| 2 | Lipscomb University · Nashville, TN | $53,938 | $24,739 | $20,048 | 67.7% |
|  | With an admission rate of 68%, Lipscomb University ranks 2nd on this list and shows median earnings of $53,938 for its Public Administration graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (10 graduates) |
| 3 | Southern Adventist University · Collegedale, TN | $51,516 | $24,345 | $19,123 | 65.5% |
|  | Southern Adventist University posts median earnings of $51,516 four years after completing and an average net price of $24,345. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (9 graduates) |
| 4 | Trevecca Nazarene University · Nashville, TN | $51,512 | $16,813 | $14,532 | 69.4% |
|  | Graduates of Trevecca Nazarene University earn a median of $51,512 four years after completing, and the university admits 69% of applicants. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (14 graduates) |
| 5 | Belmont University · Nashville, TN | $50,748 | $33,147 | $22,950 | 95.3% |
|  | Belmont University ranks 5th on this list with median earnings of $50,748 and reports an average net price of $33,147. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (26 graduates) |
| 6 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN | $48,510 | $18,976 | $10,029 | 41.6% |
|  | A public university in Knoxville, [The University of Tennessee-Knoxville](/school/the-university-of-tennessee-knoxville/majors/) shows a [six-year completion rate of 74%](/school/the-university-of-tennessee-knoxville/outcomes/) and median earnings of $48,510 for its Public Administration graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (72 graduates), Public Administration (10 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($48,510) |
| 7 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · Chattanooga, TN | $48,410 | $14,265 | $9,876 | 81.1% |
|  | [The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga](/school/the-university-of-tennessee-chattanooga/majors/) reports [median earnings of $48,410](/school/the-university-of-tennessee-chattanooga/outcomes/) four years after completing and an average net price of $14,265. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (28 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($48,410) |
| 8 | University of Memphis · Memphis, TN | $46,494 | $12,397 | $10,607 | 72.0% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 72%](/school/university-of-memphis/admissions/), [University of Memphis](/school/university-of-memphis/majors/) ranks 8th on this list and its Public Administration graduates earn a median of $46,494 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (64 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($46,494) |
| 9 | Union University · Jackson, TN | $46,286 | $27,171 | $25,839 | 60.4% |
|  | Union University posts a six-year completion rate of 66% and median earnings of $46,286 for its Public Administration graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (29 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($46,286) |
| 10 | Middle Tennessee State University · Murfreesboro, TN | $45,451 | $13,359 | $9,289 | 69.1% |
|  | [Middle Tennessee State University](/school/middle-tennessee-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $45,451](/school/middle-tennessee-state-university/outcomes/) four years after completing and an average net price of $13,359. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (69 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($45,451) |
| 11 | Tennessee State University · Nashville, TN | $44,989 | $15,796 | $15,005 | 70.1% |
|  | A public university in Nashville, [Tennessee State University](/school/tennessee-state-university/majors/) shows an [admission rate of 70%](/school/tennessee-state-university/admissions/) and median earnings of $44,989 for its Public Administration graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (17 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($44,989) |
| 12 | Austin Peay State University · Clarksville, TN | $44,152 | $9,735 | $7,588 | 96.4% |
|  | [Austin Peay State University](/school/austin-peay-state-university/majors/) ranks 12th on this list with [median earnings of $44,152](/school/austin-peay-state-university/outcomes/) and reports the lowest average net price on the page at $9,735. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (47 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($44,152) |
| 13 | The University of Tennessee-Martin · Martin, TN | $42,811 | $10,701 | $7,151 | 88.2% |
|  | The University of Tennessee-Martin reports median earnings of $42,811 for its Public Administration graduates four years after completing, alongside a six-year completion rate of 53%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (32 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($42,811) |
| 14 | East Tennessee State University · Johnson City, TN | $42,558 | $15,983 | $12,433 | 86.2% |
|  | [East Tennessee State University](/school/east-tennessee-state-university/majors/) [admits 86% of applicants](/school/east-tennessee-state-university/admissions/) and shows an average net price of $15,983. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (63 graduates), Human Services, General (36 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($43,855), Human Services, General ($40,288) |
| 15 | Freed-Hardeman University · Henderson, TN | $40,833 | $21,574 | $20,988 | 59.7% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Henderson, Freed-Hardeman University ranks 1368th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (13 graduates) |
| 16 | King University · Bristol, TN | No published median | $22,347 | $22,696 | 99.7% |
|  | [King University](/school/king-university/majors/) posts a [six-year completion rate of 48%](/school/king-university/outcomes/) and an average net price of $22,696 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (43 graduates) |
| 17 | Carson-Newman University · Jefferson City, TN | $29,685 | $20,251 | $16,672 | 90.5% |
|  | Carson-Newman University reports median earnings of $29,685 for its Public Administration graduates two years after completing, and an admission rate of 90%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Human Services, General (5 graduates) |

## How this list is ordered

Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Public Administration graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Public Administration earnings cohort in Tennessee appear. The figures are medians for federally aided Public Administration completers who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 1 of the 17 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 16 schools with a published figure. Vanderbilt University reports $91,265, which is $37,327 above the $53,938 posted by Lipscomb University.

## Job market context in Tennessee

Public Administration graduates in Tennessee enter a labor market that links to occupations such as Healthcare Social Workers, Child, Family, and School Social Workers, and Social and Human Service Assistants. Across those occupations the median annual wage is $60,552, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $48,595. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 12.3% higher, with 15,330 projected openings a year, about 2,316 openings a year for every hundred graduates, more projected openings than graduates. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses graduate earnings four years after completing; the market figures describe the occupations, and the two are not the same measure.

## Related rankings

-   [Public Administration Colleges in the United States](/rankings/best-public-administration-colleges/)
-   [Best Colleges in Tennessee](/rankings/best-colleges-in-tennessee/)
-   [Best Public Administration Colleges in Missouri](/rankings/best-public-administration-colleges-in-missouri/)
-   [Best Social Work Colleges in New Jersey](/rankings/best-social-work-colleges-in-new-jersey/)
-   [Best Social Work Colleges in New York](/rankings/best-social-work-colleges-in-new-york/)
-   [Best Public Administration Colleges in Texas](/rankings/best-public-administration-colleges-in-texas/)