The Best Online Colleges in Tennessee

Middle Tennessee State University, established in 1911, is best known for its music and aerospace programs. Over the years, it has formed partnerships with the US Army, the Marine Corps and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The school has more than 22,000 students in attendance and offers majors within science, education, liberal arts, entertainment and business.

Middle Tennessee State University offers baccalaureate, master and specialist degrees online through its University College. Online bachelor’s degrees include information technology, psychology and healthcare administration. Online master’s degree options include aviation administration, ESL and library science. Online specialist degrees include instructional leadership and educational administration and supervision.

Online student resources include academic advising, 24/7 online tutoring, an online writing center, an online job board, online test proctoring and an online library with librarians available via live chat or over the phone.

One of the oldest colleges in Tennessee, Bethel University offers several undergraduate degrees on campus and online. The school serves nontraditional learners with several fully online degrees that facilitate credit transfer and flexible scheduling.

Students choose from associate degrees in business, criminal justice, or business-customer relationship management. Learners choose either an associate of arts or an associate of applied science in any of those majors, depending on whether they want to transfer to a four-year program or enter the workplace. Students pursuing four-year degrees transfer at least 30 credits into the bachelor of science in organizational leadership, criminal justice, or emergency services management. Bethel, one of the top online colleges in Tennessee, offers one tuition for online learners regardless of in-state or out-of-state residency. Students receive free books as part of tuition. They can access 24/7 tutorial support, and they do not need SAT or ACT scores for admission to the associate programs.

The University of Tennessee Martin, established in 1924, first opened its doors as the Hall-Moody Institute. This school offered K-12 education alongside the equivalent of lower-division university education, quickly making it an educational cornerstone in the area. When faced with closure in the 1920s, local leaders requested that the state intervene, resulting in its assimilation into the University of Tennessee system. The university has more than 7,000 students enrolled.

The University of Tennessee Martin offers baccalaureate and master’s degrees online through the University of Tennessee Online. Bachelor’s degree options include agriculture, interdisciplinary studies and management, while master’s degree offerings include financial services, school counseling and educational leadership.

Resources made available to online students include technical support, online tutoring and an online library with librarians available via live chat, email or over the phone.

Union University is a private liberal arts college located in Jackson, Tennessee. The oldest college affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, Union integrates rigorous academics with Christian faith in all of it programs. Union oversees a select number of eLearning degrees designed for working professionals.

The school offers an associate degree in professional studies with concentrations in human services, organizational leadership, and Christian leadership. The bachelor of science in organizational leadership offers several concentrations, including project management and information technology. Students complete the RN-to-BSN online in as few as 18 months, some fulfilling the general education requirements face-to-face at local colleges. One of the top online schools in Tennessee, learners at Union receive online support, such as tutoring from the writing center. The school's competitive tuition rates make their degree offerings affordable.

Tennessee Technological University, established in 1915, is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents. The university has more than 11,000 students in attendance and offers over 60 degree programs, which include fields within the arts, science, agriculture, education, engineering and business.

Tennessee Technological University offers online baccalaureate and master’s degree programs. Online bachelor’s degree options include professional studies and interdisciplinary studies, while online master’s degree offerings include business, exercise studies, education and nursing.

Online student resources include an online job board, technical support and an online library with librarians available via email or over the phone.

Established in 1912, Tennessee State University, a land-grant university, is a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. The university’s offerings originally centered on agriculture and industry, but it rapidly expanded to include teacher training. The school has more than 9,000 students in attendance and provides over 75 programs of study.

Tennessee State University offers baccalaureate and master’s degree programs through its TU Online platform. Online bachelor’s degree options include health administration, information technology, sociology and urban studies. Online master’s degree offerings include training and development, holistic nursing, strategic leadership and applied geospatial information systems.

Resources available to online students include an online job board, an online math lab and an online library with librarians available via fax or over the phone.

Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, Lincoln Memorial University offers 30 majors in a close-knit learning community. Students unable to study in person enjoy many of the same benefits as on-campus students, including small class sizes and affordable tuition.

The school's online degrees include an RN-to-BSN that nurses pursue entirely online. The degree enrolls RNs who want to advance their careers or pursue graduate education. LMU, one of the top online colleges in Tennessee, also offers an MBA program that does not use a cohort model. Instead, students decide which courses best suit their career goals from a curriculum that faculty deliver in hybrid format. The online master of science in criminal justice prepares learners for administrative and managerial careers in a variety of criminal justice organizations. All learners enjoy affordable tuition, and LMU admits students in the fall, spring, and summer.

Cumberland University serves 2,300 students with academic programs steeped in the liberal arts. The private college administers programs through three schools and offers a select number of online degrees. Registered nurses with an associate degree or nursing diploma pursue the fully online RN-to-BSN. Faculty prepare nurses for advanced practice with practical, targeted coursework delivered asynchronously.

One of the top online schools in Tennessee, Cumberland also offers a master of science in nursing that students complete in as few as 18 months. Nurses choose one of two areas of specialization: nurse educator or nurse executive leadership and administration. Learners interested in pursuing an advanced business education can complete the school's 12-course MBA in as few as 12 months. Cumberland's online master of arts in education enjoys recognition from Tennessee for excellence in teacher preparation. Online learners at Cumberland receive support services such as free online tutoring and competitive tuition.

Situated on a 40-acre campus in downtown Athens, Tennessee Wesleyan College enrolls 1,100 students in 30 undergraduate majors. Students learn in classrooms with a 12-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. Nontraditional students choose one of three degrees delivered in fully online or hybrid format: a bachelor's in management, an RN-to-BSN, and an MBA.

The bachelor's degree in management serves as a degree completion program that students complete in as few as 16 months. The degree provides several areas of emphasis, with the healthcare management and management information systems concentrations delivered fully online. The RN-to-BSN builds on nurses' education and practical experience with a curriculum that stresses clinical projects. Nurses with an associate degree take courses online and complete the degree in as few as three semesters. One of the best online colleges in Tennessee, TWC offers a fully online MBA that prepares business leaders with concentrations in accounting and management and offers full-time and part-time enrollment. TWC admits students in the fall, spring, and summer.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, established in 1886, offers more than 250 programs of study and has more than 12,000 students.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offers baccalaureate, master’s, doctoral, specialist and certificate programs online through University of Tennessee Online. Bachelor’s degrees include criminal justice and nursing. Master’s degree options include elementary education and engineering management. Doctoral degree offerings include nursing, while specialist degrees include learning and leadership. Available certifications include engineering management and nonprofit management.

Online student resources include an online job board and an online library.

Tusculum College holds the distinction as Tennessee's first college. The school enrolls 1,700 students on campus and online. The online associate of arts in general studies gives students flexibility in crafting a degree that meets their career and educational goals.

Students receive a comprehensive academic foundation and practical experience through the school's online bachelor of science in business administration. Some learners choose to continue their business education with Tusculum's online MBA program, which uses five modules that emphasize the application of business principles such as accounting, finance, and management. Graduate students interested in careers as corporate trainers, strategic planners, or project managers can complete the master of arts in talent management in as few as 12 months. Areas of study include curriculum design, instructional design, and best practices in adult learning. As one of the best online schools in Tennessee, Tusculum offers one tuition rate regardless of in-state or out-of-state residency.