Accounting Degree Programs in Tennessee

In 2025, the Tennessee Society of CPAs conducted a thorough review of the state’s accounting landscape. The resulting recommendations led to new legislation designed to improve interstate career mobility and simplify access to the certified public accounting (CPA) professional track.

These developments reflect a broader trend seen in Tennessee and many other parts of the United States: Many accountants continue to age out of the workforce, and employers struggle to replace them.

This disparity creates opportunities for accounting students and graduates. See what Tennessee has to offer with this state-specific, data-rich guide.

As a Tennessee accounting student, you can explore the several program formats and concentration tracks. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) counts 32 accredited Tennessee institutions that offer degree programs in accounting. NCES data covers associate, bachelor’s, and advanced degrees available at public or private nonprofit schools.

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission’s 2025 Fact Book counted accounting programs as part of the state’s third-most popular college major among learners at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. This popularity suggests strong institutional support and resource availability for accounting students in the state.

Tennessee’s state government also offers many financial aid options through its College for TN initiative. These programs include generously funded scholarships and grants, including dual-enrollment options and opportunities for working students.

You can also connect with a wealth of accounting internships and practicum programs in Tennessee. The state is home to multiple thriving metropolitan centers with diverse opportunities, and you can graduate into a job market with a strong need for emerging accounting professionals.

Tennessee has increased its higher education spending in recent years as it works to bridge the state’s educational attainment gaps relative to national averages. According to 2024 data from the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, Tennessee’s postsecondary appropriations per full-time student exceed the national average by 24.6%. It also allocates tax revenues to higher education at a 17.3% higher-than-average rate.

Explore specifics in the table below:

There are two primary forms of higher education accreditation. Institutional accreditation applies to an entire school. You should consider it mandatory, as it determines your eligibility for federal financial aid. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is the primary accreditor of Tennessee institutions.

Programmatic accreditation indicates that a department or program within a school meets exceptional academic standards. As an accounting student, you can look for programmatic endorsements from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Before applying to any school, review its accreditation status with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the U.S. Department of Education.

Students preparing to become accountants in Tennessee can choose from on-campus, online, and hybrid programs. Each delivery format offers unique advantages to consider in the context of your learning style and personal preferences.

The format you choose can significantly affect your educational experience. Take all your options into consideration and weigh their benefits and drawbacks before making a selection.

Explore the pros and cons of each delivery method below.

A relatively high percentage of Tennessee college students engage exclusively in campus-based learning. This rate suggests students find particular value in the traditional college experience.

As an on-campus student, you can have readier access to peer and faculty networking opportunities, internships, and practicums. The main downside relates to limited flexibility, as your classes adhere to rigid schedules.

Fully online programs deliver courses remotely through specialized platforms that engage students. This option optimizes flexibility, especially if the online courses use pre-recorded asynchronous instructional sessions.

However, online learning makes it more challenging to interact with your peers and instructors. It can also limit your access to experiential learning and networking opportunities.

Hybrid programs aim to strike a balance of face-to-face and online courses in various combinations. You can access each format’s benefits while tempering their drawbacks, but you will still need to live near campus to meet in-person attendance requirements.

Higher education affordability varies based on institution type. In-state students at public colleges pay higher-than-average rates, while their out-of-state counterparts save compared to nationwide trends. Notably, private institutions cost 10.5% less than the national average in Tennessee.

Despite some savings opportunities, many Tennessee students need help covering their costs and often look to non-repayable Tennessee-specific scholarships and grants. The links below introduce additional aid options and can help you build a financial plan for your accounting education.

You will typically pay much less to study at a Tennessee public college as an in-state student. However, compared to many other states, Tennessee also maintains relatively accessible tuition rates for nonresidents. You could enjoy even more cost breaks if you come from one of the 15 other member states of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB).

SREB runs the Academic Common Market (ACM), a regional tuition reciprocity program. Learners from eligible states who study at ACM-aligned public institutions can take advantage of cost breaks through SREB. These savings could total thousands of dollars throughout their college education.

According to 2024 data from World Population Review, Tennesseeans enjoy some of the lowest living costs in the United States. In 2024, Tennessee had a cost of living index score of 90.5 on a scale that uses 100 as the national baseline average. This figure translates to a 9.5% lower cost of living compared to the average U.S. destination.

Housing, healthcare, and utilities are especially affordable in Tennessee. However, it is still wise to leave room in your budget to allow for cost increases.

Like many other states, Tennessee has an acute shortage of CPAs. The state appears poised to adopt new licensing pathways to make certified public accounting careers easier to access.

Also, multiple major Tennessee cities, including Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga, host offices of the Big Four accounting firms. These firms — Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC — represent some of the world’s largest employers of accounting professionals.

Finally, note that accountants in Tennessee can pursue opportunities in many industries and sectors beyond professional and financial services. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data from May 2025, Tennessee’s leading fields of employment include:

The state is also home to 10 businesses on the Fortune 500 list of the largest companies in the United States.

Graduates of Tennessee accounting programs can also consider alternative career paths in business and finance. Leading examples include:

Bookkeepers track day-to-day financial transactions, often working for small businesses with relatively straightforward accounting needs. They reconcile internal data with banking records, prepare financial statements, and monitor their employers’ overall financial standing. Tennessee is one of the few U.S. locations with strong job growth projections in this increasingly automated field.

Job Outlook in Tennessee (2022-32): +7.8%

These sales agents broker transactions in financial markets, connecting buyers with sellers and providing recommendations to individual and institutional investors. They also monitor market conditions and performance metrics, and carry out various analytical duties related to commodities and other tradable assets.

Job Outlook in Tennessee (2022-32): +2.1%

Financial managers help businesses optimize their monetary resources by recommending strategies and investments. Holding positions of leadership in finance departments, financial managers also supervise junior and mid-level finance employees. The 2022-2032 job outlook for these professionals appears even brighter in Tennessee than it does at the national level for 2023-2033.

Job Outlook in Tennessee (2022-32): +28.9%

If you plan to launch an accounting career in Tennessee, a bachelor’s or master’s degree could put you in a strong position to secure a higher salary and access more jobs. Except for bookkeepers, most of the state’s largest accounting-related career paths require at least a bachelor’s degree.

Accountants in Tennessee and professionals in related areas tend to earn lower pay compared to national averages. These figures mainly reflect the state’s affordability, as employers commonly adjust their salaries to align with the local cost of living.

All U.S. jurisdictions maintain their own licensing requirements for CPAs. As of July 2025, Tennessee State Board of Accountancy standards include the following:

Accountants in Tennessee may soon find it easier to pursue CPA licensure. In Feb. 2025, state lawmakers introduced a bill that creates a pathway to make CPA licenses available to candidates with 120 semester credits and two years of experience.

If the proposed bill passes, the new rules will reduce firm educational requirements and make the CPA profession more accessible.