Accounting Schools in Tennessee

Tennessee Accounting Schools

Tennessee State Board of Accountancy500 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243-1141
Phone: 615-741-2550
Fax: 615-532-8800
Email: accountancy.board@tn.gov

Overview of accounting Schools and Curriculum in Tennessee

Tennessee is home to a variety of colleges and universities that offer accounting programs. Degrees in accounting provide students with a solid foundation of accounting and business theories and practices while incorporating liberal arts concepts. The programs help students gain both problem-solving and analytical abilities, and understand the standards that rule financial reporting and related concepts.

Overview of accounting Schools and Curriculum in Tennessee

Accounting core courses often include:

  • cost accounting
  • accounting systems
  • financial accounting
  • integrated accounting principles
  • business law
  • microeconomics
  • macroeconomics
  • business ethics

Most schools offer internship opportunities to accounting majors, as well as placement opportunities for graduates. Many schools have relationships with employers in Tennessee that recruit accounting graduates. Examples of potential employers in Tennessee include Dollar General Corporation, Ernst & Young, Kay Quinn Financial, Nashville Technology Council, Primetrust Bank, and USB Financial Services. A lot of accounting degree programs in Tennessee qualify students to take the Certified Public Accountant examination. The CPA examination is governed by the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy. The license requirements include at least 150 semester hours of education and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher learning. The education must include at least 30 semester hours in accounting and 24 semester hours in business. In addition to the CPA exam, individuals must pass an ethics examination to become licensed.

Total Accounting Schools: 47
Total Accounting Students: 31,279
Average Tuition: $15,383
Average Scholarship Package: $6,323
Average Grant Amount: $9,328
Average Classroom Size: 18 Students
Online Accounting Programs: 40
Average Online Tuition: $14,909
Online Undergraduate Programs: 38
Online Graduate Programs: 30
Top Accounting Schools:Vanderbilt University
Rhodes College
Belmont University
Largest Accounting School:The University of Tennessee
• 4,207 Students Currently Attending
Cheapest Accounting School:Nashville State Community College
• $3,465 Annual Tuition Charges
School With Largest Financial Aid Packages:Vanderbilt University
• $35,087 Average Financial Aid Award

Salary and Job Outlook for Accountants in Tennessee

Job growth for Tennessee’s accountants looks downright outstanding in the coming years. Between 2018 and 2028, the number of accounting jobs in the state is projected to increase by 16% – four times the projected national growth rate in this profession during this time. The state also projects about 2,620 annual job openings for accountants during this ten-year period leading to 2028 due to a combination of new job growth, retirements, and natural job turnover.

As of May 2020, accountants in Tennessee earned an average salary of $64,120, while the top earners here (90thpercentile) — who represent accountants with senior-level titles, graduate-level degrees in accounting, and significant experience — earned about $104,190.

Both the Memphis and Nashville metro areas reported strong average salaries during this time, at $64,150 and $65,320, respectively. Note that numbers featured here include base salaries only and not salary incentives like bonuses and stock options that are commonplace among accounting professionals, particularly those in leadership and executive-level positions.

The best job career opportunities are expected for accountants who have achieved master’s degrees in accountingand an industry designation like the CPA. Graduates of accounting degrees also often pursue various other accounting careers in financial management, tax advising, auditing, banking, and even criminal justice.

May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market data for accountants and auditors represents state data, not school-specific information.

Job growth projections for 2018-2028 sourced from the U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored O*Net database represents state data, not school-specific information.

Conditions in your area may vary. Data Accessed May 2021.