2026 Best Accounting Schools in Tennessee – How to Become a CPA in TN

by Imed Bouchrika, PhD

Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist

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Choosing an accounting school in Tennessee is not just a college decision; it can affect whether you meet CPA education rules, how quickly you qualify for the Uniform CPA Exam, how much debt you take on, and which employers you can reach after graduation. Tennessee’s business climate adds to the opportunity: the state was ranked the third-best state for businesses in 2024 (CNBC, 2024), and it was also among the states with the largest annual percent change in GDP in early 2024 (Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024).

This guide is for students, career changers, and working professionals comparing accounting programs in Tennessee and planning a CPA pathway. It explains the state’s CPA requirements, program length, tuition considerations, online study options, school examples, career paths, and common mistakes to avoid before enrolling.

Best Accounting Schools in Tennessee Table of Contents

1. Quick answer: Is accounting a strong career choice in Tennessee?
2. How to become a CPA in Tennessee
3. How long accounting programs take in Tennessee
4. Accounting degree tuition and cost factors in Tennessee
5. Tennessee schools offering accounting programs for 2026
6. How online accounting programs can help Tennessee students
7. How to choose an accounting program in Tennessee
8. Why healthcare knowledge can strengthen accounting careers
9. Certifications that can add value to accounting credentials
10. How forensic science connects with investigative accounting
11. When accelerated accounting programs make sense
12. Online accounting program advantages and trade-offs
13. Tennessee CPA requirements at a glance
14. Academic and teaching paths for accounting graduates
15. How urban and regional knowledge can support CPA advisory work
16. Ways accounting professionals can support education initiatives
17. Why legal awareness matters for CPAs
18. Networking and professional organizations for aspiring CPAs
19. Career opportunities for accounting graduates in Tennessee
20. Alternative careers for accounting graduates
21. Healthcare billing and coding as an adjacent accounting path

Quick answer: Is accounting a good job in Tennessee?

Yes, accounting can be a practical career choice in Tennessee for students who want a business-focused profession with clear licensing rules, broad industry demand, and opportunities in public accounting, corporate finance, healthcare, government, manufacturing, and consulting. The strongest outcomes usually go to graduates who attend accredited programs, complete the 150-semester-hour CPA education requirement, build internship experience, and develop skills in tax, audit, analytics, compliance, and accounting technology.

Students comparing jobs with accounting degree options should remember that the CPA license is not required for every accounting role, but it can be important for public accounting, audit, higher-level tax work, and many leadership paths.

How to become a CPA in Tennessee

Tennessee’s CPA pathway has four major parts: education, the Uniform CPA Exam, ethics, and supervised experience. You may apply for the CPA Exam while you are still enrolled, but you can sit for the exam only after completing a baccalaureate degree and at least 18 semester hours of upper-division accounting coursework. Some candidates wait until they finish all education requirements before applying.

Tennessee CPA licenses renew every two years. Licensees must complete 80 CPE hours, including at least 20 hours each year. At least 40 of the total CPE hours must cover technical subjects such as accounting, auditing, business law, or taxation. A Board-approved ethics requirement is also part of renewal.

Accounting program length in Tennessee

Accounting program length depends on the credential, enrollment pace, transfer credits, and whether you already have business coursework. A traditional bachelor’s degree usually takes four years, while some master’s programs can be completed in 10 to 12 months. Combined or accelerated bachelor’s-to-master’s options may allow students to finish both degrees in five years. After graduation, many CPA candidates still need one to two years to gain experience, pass the CPA Exam, and complete licensing steps with the Tennessee Board of Accountancy.

Before enrolling, verify accreditation. The importance of accredited accounting programs is especially high for CPA candidates because coursework must align with state licensing expectations. In the U.S., accounting and business programs may hold accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), or the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).

Tuition and costs of accounting programs in Tennessee

The posted tuition rate is only one part of the real cost of an accounting degree. Students should also compare residency pricing, required fees, textbooks, software, technology requirements, transportation, housing, meals, exam preparation, and CPA application costs. Online options, including an online masters accounting degree, may reduce commuting or relocation expenses, but they are not automatically cheaper in every case.

For the 2024-2025 academic year, public four-year undergraduate programs in Tennessee averaged $11,040 for in-state students and $26,380 for out-of-state students (Ma & Matea, 2024). Private four-year undergraduate programs in the state charged an average of $34,801 for the 2022-2023 academic year (National Center for Education Statistics, 2023). At the graduate level, average tuition and fees for the 2024-2025 academic year were $9,550 at public institutions and $32,130 at private nonprofit institutions (Ma & Matea, 2024).

Tennessee schools offering accounting programs for 2026

The following Tennessee accounting programs illustrate several common CPA-preparation routes: undergraduate accounting, Master of Accountancy programs, public universities, AACSB-accredited business schools, and options with concentrations or experiential learning. Use this list as a starting point, then confirm current tuition, admission requirements, delivery format, and CPA course alignment directly with each school.

1. University of Memphis

The University of Memphis offers a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting designed for students building toward CPA eligibility and entry-level accounting roles. Coursework includes advanced topics such as cost accounting, data analytics, and audit and assurance services, giving students exposure to both technical accounting and workplace communication skills.

1. Cost per credit hour: $431 for in-state students and $616 for out-of-state students
2. Credits required: 120-122
3. Accreditation: AACSB and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

2. Tennessee State University

Tennessee State University provides a BBA in Accounting that combines general education, business coursework, and accounting fundamentals. Its experiential approach, including an internship course, can help students connect classroom concepts with tax, audit, bookkeeping, and business reporting tasks.

1. Cost per credit hour: $358 for in-state students and $888 for out-of-state students
2. Credits required: 120
3. Accreditation: AACSB and SACSCOC

3. East Tennessee State University

East Tennessee State University offers a Master of Accountancy for students who want graduate-level preparation in accounting and CPA-related competencies. The program includes specialization coursework, a graduate internship, and a capstone experience that can help students move from academic study into professional accounting work.

1. Cost per credit hour: $613 for in-state students and $1,454 for out-of-state students
2. Concentrations: Audit, Controllership, Generalist, Taxation
3. Credits required: 30
4. Accreditation: AACSB and SACSCOC

4. University of Tennessee Knoxville

The University of Tennessee Knoxville Master of Accountancy gives students a focused graduate pathway with courses tied to analytics, disruptive technologies, cybersecurity, and tax strategies. The program also includes career development activities and seminars that can help students meet employers and understand the expectations of the profession.

1. Cost per credit hour: $751 for in-state students and $1,779 for out-of-state students
2. Concentrations: Audit and Controls, Information Management, Taxation
3. Credits required: 30
4. Accreditation: AACSB and SACSCOC

5. Middle Tennessee State University

Middle Tennessee State University offers a Master of Accountancy that combines advanced accounting study with practical career preparation. Courses such as accounting analytics, international taxation, and legal topics in corporate governance can support students pursuing CPA readiness, while the Meet the Firms program gives students structured access to potential employers.

1. Cost per credit hour: $618 for in-state students and $1,565 for out-of-state students
2. Concentrations: Assurance, Tax Accounting
3. Credits required: 30
4. Accreditation: AACSB and SACSCOC

How online accounting programs can benefit students in Tennessee

Online accounting programs can be useful for Tennessee students who cannot relocate, commute daily, or pause full-time work. The best online options provide the same essential ingredients students need for CPA preparation: accredited coursework, qualified faculty, access to academic advising, career services, accounting software exposure, and clear documentation of credits.

Online learning is especially practical for working adults, rural students, military-affiliated learners, and students returning to school to complete the 150-hour CPA education requirement. Some students may also use an graduate certificate in accounting online to add focused accounting coursework without committing to a full master’s degree.

How to choose an accounting program in Tennessee

The right accounting program is the one that fits your licensing goal, budget, schedule, and preferred career direction. Do not choose based only on the school name or the lowest tuition. CPA candidates should confirm that the program helps them satisfy Tennessee’s accounting, business, and total semester-hour requirements.

1. Accreditation: Confirm institutional accreditation and, when possible, business or accounting accreditation through AACSB, ACBSP, or IACBE.
2. CPA alignment: Ask whether the curriculum satisfies Tennessee’s required 30 accounting semester hours, upper-division accounting expectations, 24 business semester hours, and 150 total hours.
3. Specialization fit: If your goal is fraud investigation or litigation support, a forensic accounting degree online may be more relevant than a general accounting program.
4. Employer access: Career fairs, Meet the Firms events, alumni panels, guest speakers, and internships can be more valuable than a long list of electives.
5. Practical experience: Look for internships, capstones, practicum courses, and projects using accounting technology or real business cases.
6. Financial support: Compare scholarships, assistantships, tuition discounts, employer reimbursement, and aid. Scholarship statistics and data show that the average aid per full-time undergraduate student was $16,360 and $28,420 per graduate student.

Common mistakes to avoid

Why healthcare knowledge can strengthen accounting careers in Tennessee

Healthcare is one of the sectors where accountants often need more than general ledger knowledge. Professionals who understand billing workflows, compliance requirements, reimbursement issues, and operational costs can contribute to revenue cycle management, budgeting, internal controls, and financial reporting in medical organizations. Accountants do not need clinical credentials to work in healthcare finance, but learning how healthcare roles and systems operate can improve communication with administrators and care teams. For broader context on the healthcare workforce, students may review how to become a nurse practitioner in Tennessee.

Certifications that can add value to accounting credentials in Tennessee

Additional credentials can help accounting graduates signal specific skills, especially when they are pursuing bookkeeping, payroll, tax support, audit assistance, fraud review, or compliance roles. A bookkeeping certification, for example, may be useful for students who want to build practical transaction-recording skills before or during a degree program. Certifications should be chosen carefully: the best one depends on the role you want, the employer’s expectations, and whether you are pursuing CPA licensure.

How forensic science can connect with accounting careers in Tennessee

Forensic accounting sits at the intersection of financial records, investigation, internal controls, and legal evidence. Students interested in fraud detection, embezzlement investigations, litigation support, or compliance testing may benefit from learning investigative methods in addition to accounting standards. A broader look at forensic science degree in Tennessee pathways can help students understand how evidence, documentation, chain of custody, and analytical reasoning apply to financial investigations.

When accelerated accounting programs can fast-track CPA preparation

Accelerated accounting programs may help students reach CPA education requirements sooner by compressing coursework, accepting transfer credits, or combining undergraduate and graduate study. These formats can be a good fit for disciplined students who already know they want CPA licensure and can handle a heavier academic pace. They may not be ideal for students who need a lighter schedule, significant work hours, or more time for internships. Students comparing formats can review accelerated accounting programs for additional program examples.

Online accounting programs in Tennessee: advantages and trade-offs

Online accounting education can be just as rigorous as campus study when the program is accredited, well-supported, and transparent about CPA preparation. The main advantage is flexibility, but the main risk is enrolling in a program that does not provide enough advising, networking, or state-specific licensing guidance.

Students who want a broader comparison of online undergraduate options can review top online accounting programs and then confirm Tennessee-specific CPA requirements with the school and the state board.

Tennessee CPA requirements at a glance

The Tennessee CPA pathway rests on education, examination, ethics, supervised experience, and continuing education after licensure. A concise overview is useful, but students should still verify details with the Tennessee Board of Accountancy before making enrollment or exam decisions. For a fuller career walkthrough, see this guide to CPA requirements in Tennessee.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree and/or higher with 150 total semester hours, including required accounting and business coursework.
• Exam: Uniform CPA Exam, with all four sections passed within 18 months.
• Ethics: AICPA Ethics Examination completed with a score of 90% or higher.
• Experience: At least 2,000 hours of accounting work supervised by an active CPA in TN.
• Renewal: License renewal every two years with 80 CPE hours, including annual minimums and technical-subject requirements.

Can accounting graduates move into academic roles in Tennessee?

Some accounting graduates eventually teach, train, or mentor others. Common routes include adjunct teaching, community college instruction, corporate training, CPA review support, continuing education, and financial literacy programs. Requirements vary by institution and role; a CPA license, graduate degree, or teaching credential may be expected depending on the position. Students curious about educator pathways can compare requirements in what degree do you need to be a teacher in Tennessee.

How urban and regional knowledge can support CPA advisory work

CPAs who advise businesses often need to understand more than financial statements. Local development patterns, infrastructure spending, zoning changes, population shifts, and regional economic conditions can influence client revenue, tax planning, budgeting, and risk assessment. Accounting students interested in this broader advisory perspective can explore planning concepts through how to become an urban planner in Tennessee.

How accounting professionals can support education initiatives in Tennessee

Accounting professionals can contribute to schools and community programs through budgeting support, financial literacy workshops, nonprofit board service, grant tracking, and student mentoring. Those who enjoy both numbers and instruction may also consider education-related roles where analytical skills and classroom communication overlap. A useful starting point is this guide on how to become a high school math teacher in Tennessee.

Why legal awareness matters for CPAs in Tennessee

Accounting work often intersects with contracts, tax rules, employment records, fraud investigations, regulatory compliance, and litigation support. CPAs are not attorneys, but legal awareness helps them recognize risk, document work properly, strengthen internal controls, and collaborate effectively with counsel. Students who want to understand legal support roles can review how to become a paralegal in Tennessee for context on legal processes that may affect financial decisions.

How networking and professional organizations help aspiring CPAs in Tennessee

Accounting is a relationship-driven profession. Grades and exam scores matter, but internships, referrals, mentorship, and employer events often determine how quickly students move into strong entry-level roles.

• Mentorship: Professional organizations can connect students with CPAs who explain exam strategy, career choices, busy-season expectations, and specialization options.
• Internships and jobs: Events hosted by groups such as the Tennessee Society of CPAs can expose students to firms, corporate accounting departments, government employers, and nonprofit organizations.
• Skill development: Workshops and conferences help students learn about tax updates, audit practices, accounting technology, ethics, and regulatory changes.
• CPA Exam support: Some organizations provide study groups, discounts, practice resources, or peer accountability.
• Professional visibility: Students who attend events, ask informed questions, and follow up with contacts can build a reputation before graduation.

Career opportunities for accounting graduates in Tennessee

Accounting graduates in Tennessee can work in public accounting firms, private companies, healthcare organizations, manufacturers, technology firms, nonprofits, financial institutions, and government agencies. The CPA credential can expand opportunities, but non-CPA roles also exist in bookkeeping, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, financial analysis, internal audit support, and tax preparation.

Students who want a broader business foundation along with accounting preparation may also compare the best business schools in Tennessee.

Alternative careers for accounting graduates in Tennessee

An accounting degree can also support careers outside traditional accounting departments. Graduates may move into finance, operations, consulting, compliance, data analysis, entrepreneurship, nonprofit administration, or education. Those interested in early education can review the elementary school teacher requirements in Tennessee, although teaching requirements differ from accounting career requirements and should be checked separately.

How accounting graduates can diversify with healthcare billing and coding

Healthcare billing and coding can appeal to accounting graduates who like detailed documentation, revenue tracking, compliance, and reimbursement processes. This path does not replace CPA preparation, but it can be a practical adjacent specialization for professionals who want to work in medical offices, hospitals, insurers, or healthcare revenue cycle teams. For role-specific guidance, review how to be a medical coder in Tennessee.

Key insights for choosing an accounting school in Tennessee

• Start with the CPA rules, not the school brochure: Tennessee CPA candidates need 150 semester hours, specific accounting and business coursework, the CPA Exam, the ethics exam, and 2,000 supervised work hours.
• Accreditation matters: Confirm institutional and business/accounting accreditation before enrolling, especially if your goal is CPA licensure or graduate study.
• Demand is favorable but not automatic: Tennessee accountants and auditors are projected to see 11% growth through 2032, but stronger outcomes usually require internships, technical skills, and professional networking.
• Cost comparisons should use net price: Tuition, fees, housing, software, CPA review, exam fees, and transfer-credit policies all affect affordability.
• Online programs can work well for disciplined students: Flexibility is valuable, but students should verify CPA alignment, faculty access, career support, and technology requirements.
• Specialization can improve fit: Tax, audit, analytics, forensic accounting, healthcare finance, bookkeeping, and compliance can lead to different roles, so choose electives and certifications intentionally.
• Professional relationships matter early: Meet the Firms events, internships, TSCPA involvement, and faculty connections can help students turn an accounting degree into a job offer.

References:

• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. (n.d.). Accredited accounting degree programs. https://www.acbsp.org
• American Accounting Association. (n.d.). Accounting education resources. https://aaahq.org
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. (n.d.). AACSB-accredited accounting programs. https://www.aacsb.edu/accredited
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. (n.d.). Becoming a CPA. https://www.aicpa-cima.com/resources/article/becoming-a-cpa
• Council for Higher Education Accreditation. (n.d.). Recognized accounting accreditation agencies. https://www.chea.org
• Government Accountability Office. (n.d.). Workforce demand in financial occupations. https://www.gao.gov
• National Association of State Boards of Accountancy. (n.d.). Tennessee CPA requirements. https://nasba.org/exams/cpaexam/tennessee
• Tennessee State Board of Accountancy. (n.d.). CPA licensure requirements. https://www.tn.gov/commerce/regboards/accountancy/license-requirements.html
• Tennessee State Board of Accountancy. (n.d.). Education requirements for CPA licensure. https://www.tn.gov/commerce/regboards/accountancy/apply-for-license.html
• Tennessee State Board of Accountancy. (n.d.). Uniform CPA Examination information. https://www.tn.gov/commerce/regboards/accountancy/exams.html
• Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants. (n.d.). How to become a CPA in Tennessee. https://www.tscpa.com/become-a-cpa
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024). Accountants and auditors: Occupational outlook. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/accountants-and-auditors.htm
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024). Accountants and auditors: State employment and wages. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm
• CareerOneStop. (n.d.). License Finder. https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024). Accountants and auditors occupational information. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/accountants-and-auditors.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com