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Best Value Teaching Graduate Certificate Schools in Tennessee

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2023 Best Value Teaching Graduate Certificate Schools in Tennessee

Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

14 Schools Ranked
$18,478 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$16,032 Avg Student Debt*

There are so many teaching programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamps that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Teaching Degree Search has created the Best Value Teaching Graduate Certificate Schools in Tennessee to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 14 schools in Tennessee to see which ones offered the best value graduate certificate programs for teaching students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

Top Value Teaching Graduate Certificate Schools in Tennessee

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Carson - Newman University

Jefferson City, Tennessee
47 Total Awards
$9,632 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named Carson - Newman University the best value school in Tennessee for teaching students working on their graduate certificate. Carson - Newman is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Jefferson City, Tennessee. It awarded 47 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Carson - Newman are $9,632 a year.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Carson - Newman. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 85% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Carson - Newman is ranked #4 for overall quality in Tennessee.

Read full report on Carson - Newman University

#2

Union University

Jackson, Tennessee
13 Total Awards
$11,666 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent graduate certificate programs at Union University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value teaching schools in Tennessee. Located in Jackson, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 13 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Union are $11,666 a year.

Union does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 70% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Union did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our Best Teaching Graduate Certificate Schools in Tennessee list.

Read full report on Union University

#3

Freed-Hardeman University

Henderson, Tennessee
13 Total Awards
$10,980 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent graduate certificate programs at Freed-Hardeman University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best value teaching schools in Tennessee. Freed-Hardeman University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Henderson, Tennessee that handed out 13 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at FHU are $10,980 per year.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at FHU. In 2019-2020 about 87% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

FHU also took the #5 spot in our Best Teaching Graduate Certificate Schools in Tennessee rankings.

Full Freed-Hardeman University Report

9 Total Awards
$18,538 Average Tuition & Fees

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 Value Teaching Graduate Certificate Schools in Tennessee list. UT Chattanooga is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9 graduate certificates to qualified students.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at UT Chattanooga are $18,538 a year.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at UT Chattanooga. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 60% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga

#5

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee
72 Total Awards
$14,544 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 14 schools in Tennessee that were part of this year’s value ranking, University of Memphis landed the # 5 spot on the list. Memphis, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out graduate certificates to 72 students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at UofM are $14,544 a year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at UofM. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 58% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on University of Memphis

#6

Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, Tennessee
35 Total Awards
$20,702 Average Tuition & Fees

Tennessee Technological University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #6 on the list. Tennessee Tech University is a public institution located in Cookeville, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 35 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Tennessee Tech University graduate students pay an average of $20,702 in tuition and fees each year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Tennessee Tech University. During the 2019-2020 year, about 80% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#7

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee
50 Total Awards
$27,432 Average Tuition & Fees

Middle Tennessee State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. This large public school is located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and it awarded 50 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Middle Tennessee State University are $27,432 per year.

Online graduate 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 2019-2020 about 57% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Middle Tennessee State University

6 Total Awards
$31,798 Average Tuition & Fees

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value graduate certificate teaching programs. Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, the large public school awarded 6 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at UT Knoxville are $31,798 per year.

One thing to take note of is that UT Knoxville does offer online graduate classes in some areas. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 36% took at least some of their classes online.

UT Knoxville also took the #3 spot in our Best Teaching Graduate Certificate Schools in Tennessee rankings.

Read More…

#9

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, Tennessee
34 Total Awards
$11,585 Average Tuition & Fees

Trevecca Nazarene University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #9 on the list. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 34 students in 2020-2021.

TNU graduate students pay an average of $11,585 in tuition and fees each year.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at TNU. In fact, around 66% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full Trevecca Nazarene University Report

#10

Lipscomb University

Nashville, Tennessee
68 Total Awards
$17,100 Average Tuition & Fees

Lipscomb University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value graduate certificate teaching programs. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 68 students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Lipscomb are $17,100 a year. On average, graduate certificate students take out $16,032 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Lipscomb. In 2019-2020 about 31% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Lipscomb also made our Best Teaching Graduate Certificate Schools in Tennessee list, coming in at #1.

Read full report on Lipscomb University

#11

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee
29 Total Awards
$25,856 Average Tuition & Fees

East Tennessee State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Graduate Certificate Schools in Tennessee list. This fairly large public school is located in Johnson City, Tennessee, and it awarded 29 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at ETSU are $25,856 per year.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at ETSU. In fact, around 49% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full East Tennessee State University Report

#12

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, Tennessee
8 Total Awards
$14,827 Average Tuition & Fees

Austin Peay State University landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value graduate certificate teaching programs. Located in Clarksville, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school handed out 8 graduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.

Austin Peay State University graduate students pay an average of $14,827 in tuition and fees each year.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Austin Peay State University. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 85% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Austin Peay State University Report

#13

Lee University

Cleveland, Tennessee
1 Total Awards
$15,050 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #13, Lee University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for teaching students working on their graduate certificate. Located in Cleveland, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 1 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Lee University are $15,050 a year.

One thing to take note of is that Lee University does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 25% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Lee University

#14

Lincoln Memorial University

Harrogate, Tennessee
119 Total Awards
$20,104 Average Tuition & Fees

Lincoln Memorial University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Graduate Certificate Schools in Tennessee list. LMU is located in Harrogate, Tennessee and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 119 graduate certificates to qualified students.

LMU graduate students pay an average of $20,104 in tuition and fees each year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at LMU. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 13% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

View Best Value Teaching Graduate Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 14 schools only.

References

  • 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.

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