A Guide to Online Computer Science Degrees in Tennessee

Tennessee is the 36 largest and 16th most populous state in the Union. It’s known as the Volunteer state, and while there’s some debate over that name’s origins, it comes from its residents’ penchant for joining the military. Its major industries are agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism. Tennessee ranks below average among American states in per capita personal income, median household income, poverty and more. It counters this with less stringent taxes, low cost of living, and these factors and others have led to major investment in the state. In addition, companies like FedEx, AutoZone, International Paper, Pilot Corporation, Regal Entertainment Group, Eastman Chemical Company, Nissan Motor Company, Caterpillar Financial, and Unum all have headquarters in Tennessee. Throughout these businesses and other sectors of the Tennessee economy like education and health care, there are significant IT and Computer Science opportunities.

While Tennessee may not be thought of as a tech-haven the way states like California, Virginia or Texas are, it has a surprising amount of IT and Computer Science development, especially in Chattanooga. In 2017, Fortune cited the city as a rapidly developing and for its “bustling tech scene,” noting the cities’ efforts to build lightning quick Internet infrastructure which led to approximately $865.3 million being added to the local economy between 2010 and 2015. Notable tech success startups in Tennessee include Skuid, a cloud-based UX platform for enterprises, and Bellhops, an on-demand moving company. The state has also sought to become a leader in developing new energy technology through partnerships with Mitsubishi, General Electric, and others. These projects require an influx Computer Scientists and other related professionals. In 2017, CompTIA found that 2,500 jobs were added to Tennessee in the tech industry alone. They also found that the industry contributed $14.3 billion to the state’s economy that year. That same year, its 165,700 tech workers ranked 22nd among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in net tech employment. This amounted to 5.1% of the state’s total workforce. The average tech industry salary in Tennessee was nearly $85,000, compared to $48,160 for the average private sector salary.

Tennessee Educational Costs

According to College Calc, the average annual in-state tuition in Tennessee was $14,833 for the 2016-2017 academic year. That’s $1,247 higher than the U.S. average. Tennessee was found to be the 19th most expensive and 34th most affordable state or district to attend college in. In comparison, the average national cost for tuition and fees in the 2016–2017 school year was $33,480 in private colleges, $9,650 for state residents attending public colleges, and $24,930 for out-of-staters going to public universities. Tennessee’s cost of living is lower than average, making paying a bit more for college an easier proposition. We’ve also found some incredibly affordable options in Computer Science below.

Tennessee Tech Salaries

  • Web Developer: $77,045
  • Software Application Developer: $75,601
  • Computer Systems Analyst: $74,800
  • Database Administrator: $90,434
  • Data Scientist: $102,794
  • Information Technology Manager: $113,338

The 5 Best Online CS Degree Providers: TN


While students should first and foremost make sure that a university offers the exact field of study they’re interested in pursuing, knowing the overall quality of an online degree providing university is also important. Below we’ve surveyed all of the computer science-related degree providers in California and ranked them according to academic prestige and the breadth of their academic offerings. Our academic prestige metric takes into account online-centered predictors of program quality such as class size, the range of online support services, the percentage of faculty with terminal degrees in their field, and admissions profiles. Together these two metric categories help to flesh out some of the overall best online degree-granting institutions for computer science in the state. Check out our top offerings below!

1
University of Memphis
CSZ Score: 96.5/100
Online Tech Degrees: 4

U of M is a public research university headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. It was founded in 1912. The school is comprised of thirteen colleges and schools, including Arts and Sciences, Business and Economics, Communication and Fine Arts, Education, Engineering Nursing, Law, Music, and more. It also is home to several centers for advanced research in technology, earthquakes, intelligent systems, distributed learning, and business and economic research. U of M offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees, in addition to graduate certificates. Over 21,000 students attend the school, which offers a very low 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Washington Monthly has ranked the school 40th in the country.

U of M’s online division, U of M Global, offers 60 separate degree programs in Business, Education, Engineering, Health Professions, Computer Science, and more.. All of its programs are entirely online. It has several computer science programs, including a Bachelor’s in Business Information and Technology, Master’s of Science in Instruction and Curriculum Leadership – Instructional Design and Technology, Instruction and Curriculum Leadership – School Library Information Specialist, and a Doctorate of Education in Instruction and Curriculum Leadership – Instructional Design and Technology. The Bachelor’s program covers business and computer science. The Master’s programs will prepare you for a career in computer science and education or library science, and the doctorate is intended for scholars and researchers to work in academic environments. There are also several graduate certificates that U of M offers in Computer Science as well, some of which mirror parts of other programs. U of M Global helps you with an advisor as soon as you choose a degree program you’re interested in.

2
Austin Peay State University
CSZ Score: 96.5/100
Online Tech Degrees: 3

Austin Peay State University is a public university based in Clarksville, Tennessee, that was founded in 1927 and named after Austin Peay, the Governor of Tennessee at the time. It serves over 10,000 students, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 18 to 1. APSU increased its enrollment every year from 2001 to 2010, a rare feat, and in 2012, it was identified by USA Today as the fastest growing university in Tennessee. APSU’s history extends back to the mid-1800’s, through a series of universities that eventually became APSU sprang out of the Masonic tradition. From there, it became a junior college, and starting in 1951 began offering Bachelor degrees, followed by Graduate degrees in 1952. APSU now offers degrees in Colleges of Arts and Letters, Behavioral and Health Sciences, Business, Education, Science and Mathematics, Technology and Public Management.

APSU offers an Associate of Applied Science Management Technology with a concentration in Management Technology to begin its undergraduate Computer Science offerings. It also offers a Bachelor of Science online in three different concentrations within the field of Computer Information Systems. The concentrations are Systems Development, Internet and Web Technology, and Database Administration. There are also three minors that are available in online formats, which are in Web Technology, Mobile Software Technology and Information Assurance and Security. These different areas of concentration allow students to tailor their curriculum to their strengths and preferences. Finally, the school rounds out its Computer Science degrees with a Professional Science Masters in Computer Science and Quantitative Methods, boasting concentrations in Data Management and Analysis, and Predictive Analytics.

3
University of Tennessee
CSZ Score: 99/100
Online Tech Degrees: 1

UT is a public university and flagship of the University of Tennessee system, which encompasses nine undergraduate and eleven graduate colleges. It was founded in 1794, predating the state of Tennessee itself. In 2017, U.S. News & World Report ranked UT 103rd among all national universities and 46th among public institutions of higher learning. These are just two of the myriad accolades UT has received from institutions like USNR, Princeton Review, Forbes, and many others. UT serves over 28,000 students and has a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio. It is known in part for its incredible research opportunities for students and faculty.

UT offers an online Master’s of Science degree in Information Sciences. It requires 36 credits. Required courses include Information Environment, Information Representation and Organization, and Information Access and Retrieval. This program was designed with a synchronous, remote delivery format which includes live, interactive audio. Students can view lectures, ask questions, talk to their classmates and view presentations from the comfort of their homes. Students are admitted to this program twice a year, in the fall and in the spring. It comes in thesis or non-thesis formats as well. There is a required one-day orientation at the Knoxville campus for this program.

4
King University
CSZ Score: 97/100
Online Tech Degrees: 2

King University is a private university, established in 1867 and located in Bristol, Tennessee. Over 2,800 students attend King, which has a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The university is broken down into seven different schools: College of Arts and Sciences; School of Behavioral and Health Sciences; School of Business and Economics; Peeke School of Christian Mission; School of Communication, Information, and Design; School of Education; and School of Nursing. Their schools combine to offer over 80 different majors for Bachelor degree programs, many of which can be completed in accelerated and/or online formats. Students are permitted to transfer up to 76 credits from other institutions towards their Bachelor’s degree, and students who have completed fewer than 60 semester hours of coursework can enroll in their Pathway Program. The Pathway Program is designed to quickly prepare students to enter a King University professional study degree program, which can help working professionals increase their credentials in their field.

King offers Bachelor’s degrees in Information Technology and Health Informatics online. They can be completed in as little as 16 months, cost $305 per credit hour and require 48 credit hours. The IT Bachelor’s degree comes in three tracks: Cybersecurity, Network Management, and Information Systems. It’s aimed at students looking to earn management or administrative and strategic career positions, or who want to research or earn higher degrees in IT. The Health Informatics program teaches students how to analyze, create, implement and evaluate information and communication systems in healthcare, improve patient care, and much more. It includes courses in Healthcare Administration, Information Technology, and Health Informatics.

5
Bethel University
CSZ Score: 97/100
Online Tech Degrees: 1

Bethel is a private, Christian university headquartered in McKenzie, Tennessee, with satellite campuses in Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, Jackson, Paris, and Clarksville. It was founded in 1847. Nearly 6,000 students attend Bethel, which has a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The school is divided into three colleges in Arts & Sciences, Professional Studies, and Health Sciences. It conveys Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Qualified students can enter Bethel’s Honors program, earning themselves $10,000 scholarship per academic year they attend Bethel.

Bethel offers a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems online. Students need 60 credits to begin this program, and if you don’t, you may be able to earn them through an Associate’s program at Bethel. Courses for this program start every 6 weeks. 57 credits are required, and students can finish in as little as 21-26 months. Sample courses include Information Systems Security, Business Database Management, Corporate Finance, Information Systems Analysis and Design, a Business Capstone and much more. As part of Bethel’s Christian foundation, students will also take two courses in Community, Self and Formation: Ancient and Contemporary Narratives and Examining Crucial Questions as well.

Directory of Online Computer Science Degrees in Tennessee

University of Memphis Memphis, TN Online CS Degrees: 1


ADDRESS & TUITION
Southern Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38152
13291

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • Business Information and Technology

GRADUATE DEGREES

  • Master of Science in Instruction and Curriculum Leadership – Instructional Design and Technology Master of Science in Instruction and Curriculum Leadership – School Library Information SpecialistDoctor of Education in Instruction and Curriculum Leadership – Instructional Design and Technology
Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TN Online CS Degrees: 2


ADDRESS & TUITION
601 College St, Clarksville, Tennessee 37044
12688

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • Associate of Applied Science Management Technology Bachelor of Science Computer Science & Information Systems

GRADUATE DEGREES

  • Professional Science Masters Computer Science and Quantitative Methods
University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN Online CS Degrees: 4


ADDRESS & TUITION
527 Andy Holt Tower, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996
31390

GRADUATE DEGREES

  • Information Sciences
King University Bristol, TN Online CS Degrees: 3


ADDRESS & TUITION
1350 King College Rd, Bristol, Tennessee 37620-2699
18918

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
Bethel University McKenzie, TN Online CS Degrees: 4


ADDRESS & TUITION
325 Cherry Ave, McKenzie, Tennessee 38201
14583

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • B.S. in Management Information Systems