2026 Best Value Computer Science Schools in Tennessee
Looking for the best-value Computer Science degree programs in Tennessee? Our ranking highlights 143 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Computer Science Degree reviewed 17 schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Computer Science Degree Schools in Tennessee
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat Nashville State Community College this year in Tennessee. Located in Nashville, TN, Nashville State Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,730 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,714. Typical Computer Science student debt is $16,745. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,519 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Nashville State Community College
Request InformationThe strong cost-to-outcome balance at Volunteer State Community College earned it the #2 place in Tennessee. Based in Gallatin, TN, Volunteer State Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,756, compared with $17,740 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $12,462 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $41,150. Set against $12,462 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Volunteer State Community College
Request InformationOut of the 17 schools in Tennessee in this year's value ranking, Chattanooga State Community College landed the #3 spot. This public school is set in Chattanooga, TN. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,772, compared with $17,756 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,079 to complete their Computer Science program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $37,598. That is a strong return on a $12,079 median debt. Get the full Chattanooga State Community College report
Request InformationA rank of #4 makes Pellissippi State Community College one of the best values in Tennessee. Located in Knoxville, TN, Pellissippi State Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,786 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,770. Typical Computer Science student debt is $8,951. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $38,440. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Pellissippi State Community College
Request InformationThe strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northeast State Community College earned it the #5 place in Tennessee. This public school is set in Blountville, TN. In-state tuition and fees average $4,782, compared with $17,766 for out-of-state students. Typical Computer Science student debt is $6,404. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $34,553. Set against $6,404 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Northeast State Community College
Request InformationTennessee Technological University offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. This public school is set in Cookeville, TN. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,376, with out-of-state students paying around $15,576. Graduates carry a median of $17,580 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,501 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%. See the full Tennessee Technological University profile
Request InformationEast Tennessee State University placed #7 among the best-value Computer Science schools in Tennessee. Based in Johnson City, TN, East Tennessee State University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,216, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. East Tennessee State University Computer Science students take on a median of $21,301 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $44,859. Set against $21,301 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on East Tennessee State University
Request InformationThe University Of Tennessee offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Knoxville, TN, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. The median Computer Science program debt is $22,859. The University Of Tennessee alumni report median earnings of $60,249 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted. Get the full The University Of Tennessee report
Request InformationMiddle Tennessee State University offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Murfreesboro, TN, Middle Tennessee State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. The median Computer Science program debt is $22,754. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,541 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $22,754 median debt. About 69% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on Middle Tennessee State University
Request InformationThe University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga placed #10 among the best-value Computer Science schools in Tennessee. Based in Chattanooga, TN, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,448, while out-of-state students pay about $18,512. Typical Computer Science student debt is $23,324. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $51,151. Set against $23,324 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 81% of those who apply are admitted. More on The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga
Request InformationAustin Peay State University came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Austin Peay State University is a public school based in Clarksville, TN. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,006, while out-of-state students pay about $14,766. Graduates carry a median of $24,530 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,301. That is a strong return on a $24,530 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%. Read the full report on Austin Peay State University
Request InformationThe University Of Tennessee Martin ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Set in Martin, TN, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,560, compared with $16,600 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $23,770 in student loans. The University Of Tennessee Martin alumni report median earnings of $44,213 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Tennessee Martin admits about 88% of applicants. Read the full report on The University Of Tennessee Martin
Request InformationUniversity Of Memphis offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. This public school is set in Memphis, TN. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,728, compared with $15,384 for out-of-state students. University Of Memphis Computer Science students take on a median of $26,315 in debt. University Of Memphis alumni report median earnings of $48,458 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,315 median debt. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants. Get the full University Of Memphis report
Request InformationTennessee State University offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Located in Nashville, TN, Tennessee State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,616, while out-of-state students pay about $22,416. Tennessee State University Computer Science students take on a median of $29,489 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,730 ten years after entry. Set against $29,489 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Tennessee State University report
Request InformationVanderbilt University placed #15 among the best-value Computer Science schools in Tennessee. Based in Nashville, TN, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Typical Computer Science student debt is $13,975. Vanderbilt University alumni report median earnings of $91,565 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 6% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Vanderbilt University report
Request InformationKing College offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Located in Bristol, TN, King College is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,397. King College Computer Science students take on a median of $25,579 in debt. Median earnings reach $59,831 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. King College admits about 100% of applicants. See the full King College profile
Request InformationRhodes College placed #17 among the best-value Computer Science schools in Tennessee. Rhodes College is a private not-for-profit school based in Memphis, TN. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,110. The median Computer Science program debt is $23,078. Graduates go on to earn a median of $66,651 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted. See the full Rhodes College profile
Request InformationNashville Film Institute landed the #18 spot for value in Tennessee this year. Read more about Nashville Film Institute
Request InformationPaul Mitchell The School Memphis placed #19 among the best-value Computer Science schools in Tennessee. More on Paul Mitchell The School Memphis
Request InformationTennessee College Of Applied Technology Dickson offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Get the full Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Dickson report
Request InformationLove Beauty School Inc came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. More on Love Beauty School Inc
Request InformationTennessee College Of Applied Technology Shelbyville placed #22 among the best-value Computer Science schools in Tennessee. Read more about Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Shelbyville
Request InformationRoane State Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Read more about Roane State Community College
Request InformationAustins Beauty College Inc offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. More on Austins Beauty College Inc
Request InformationMilligan College
Milligan College landed the #25 spot for value in Tennessee this year. Get the full Milligan College report
Request InformationRest of the Top 50 Best-Value Computer Science Degree Schools in Tennessee
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Galen Health Institutes Nashville Campus came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Galen Health Institutes Nashville Campus report
Request InformationTennessee College Of Applied Technology Jackson ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. More on Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jackson
Request InformationAmerican Baptist College landed the #28 spot for value in Tennessee this year. More on American Baptist College
Request InformationSouthern Adventist University came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. More on Southern Adventist University
Request InformationMiddle Tennessee School Of Anesthesia Inc ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. More on Middle Tennessee School Of Anesthesia Inc
Request InformationGoulds Academy
Goulds Academy landed the #31 spot for value in Tennessee this year. See the full Goulds Academy profile
Request InformationTennessee Board Of Regents offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. More on Tennessee Board Of Regents
Request InformationBryan College Dayton came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Bryan College Dayton report
Request InformationConcorde Career College Memphis ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Read the full report on Concorde Career College Memphis
Request InformationFranklin Hair Academy School Of Cosmetology landed the #35 spot for value in Tennessee this year. More on Franklin Hair Academy School Of Cosmetology
Request InformationPentecostal Theological Seminary placed #36 among the best-value Computer Science schools in Tennessee. Read the full report on Pentecostal Theological Seminary
Request InformationThe University Of Tennessee Health Science Center ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Read the full report on The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center
Request InformationMotlow State Community College came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Motlow State Community College
Request InformationCumberland University came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Cumberland University report
Request InformationFayetteville College Of Cosmetology Arts And Sciences landed the #40 spot for value in Tennessee this year. Read more about Fayetteville College Of Cosmetology Arts And Sciences
Request InformationTennessee College Of Applied Technology Hartsville landed the #41 spot for value in Tennessee this year. See the full Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hartsville profile
Request InformationRoss Medical Education Center Johnson City offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. More on Ross Medical Education Center Johnson City
Request InformationSandra Academy Of Salon Services Inc placed #43 among the best-value Computer Science schools in Tennessee. Read the full report on Sandra Academy Of Salon Services Inc
Request InformationSewanee The University Of The South offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. Get the full Sewanee The University Of The South report
Request InformationLipscomb University ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Get the full Lipscomb University report
Request InformationRemington College Memphis Campus came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. See the full Remington College Memphis Campus profile
Request InformationMaryville College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Get the full Maryville College report
Request InformationRichmont Graduate University offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. Read more about Richmont Graduate University
Request InformationAcademy Of Allied Health Careers offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. Read the full report on Academy Of Allied Health Careers
Request InformationPaul Mitchell The School Murfreesboro Nashville landed the #50 spot for value in Tennessee this year. See the full Paul Mitchell The School Murfreesboro Nashville profile
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Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Computer Science Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 17 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 143 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).