Tennessee’s universities feed a fast-growing Nashville economy, healthcare, music, and a wave of corporate relocations, plus the Memphis logistics hub. They range from digital-focused public programs to the elite Vanderbilt Master of Marketing. Accredited bachelor’s and master’s degrees run on campus and online. Below we compare the strongest Tennessee programs on format, accreditation, cost, and payoff, where marketing managers earn a median near $131,990 statewide and about $135,370 in Nashville (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Tennessee digital marketing degrees at a glance (2026)
| Programs in this guide | Bachelor’s and master’s in marketing / digital marketing |
| Degree levels | BS / BBA (bachelor’s); MS / MBA (master’s) |
| Typical length | 4 years (bachelor’s); 10–24 months (master’s) |
| Formats | On-campus, online, and hybrid |
| Accreditation to look for | SACSCOC (regional) and AACSB (business school) |
| Specialist median pay (TN) | ~$69,790/yr (BLS 13-1161) |
| Manager median pay (TN) | ~$131,990/yr (BLS 11-2021) |
| Financial aid | FAFSA, Pell, federal loans, and the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship |
Prefer a faster, lower-cost route? Compare Tennessee digital marketing bootcamps & certificates. Otherwise, here are the accredited degree programs.
Why accreditation matters
For a degree, accreditation is what makes it worth the time and money. The Tennessee universities below are regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), which is what lets you use federal financial aid and transfer credits. Their business schools also hold AACSB accreditation, the top international standard for business programs and a strong quality signal for a marketing degree.
Compare Tennessee digital marketing degrees
| Program | Level | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| UT Knoxville (Haslam) — BS Marketing | Bachelor’s | On-campus | AACSB; Digital & Visual track |
| MTSU (Jones) — BBA Marketing (Digital) | Bachelor’s | Campus + online | AACSB; online digital concentration |
| Belmont University (Massey) — Marketing | Bachelor’s | On-campus | AACSB; Nashville |
| Vanderbilt (Owen) — Master of Marketing | Master’s | On-campus | Elite; 10 months |
| MTSU (Jones) — MBA, Strategic Marketing Analytics | Master’s | Campus + online | AACSB |
Tennessee bachelor’s degrees in marketing & digital marketing
University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Haslam) — BS in Marketing
Bachelor’sA marketing BS from the AACSB-accredited Haslam College of Business with three tracks, including a Digital and Visual Marketing track focused on engaging customers across media, and a Customer and Brand Strategy track.
- AACSB-accredited Haslam College
- Dedicated Digital and Visual Marketing track
- Strong statewide recruiting
- On-campus in Knoxville
- Broad marketing major with tracks
Middle Tennessee State University (Jones) — BBA in Marketing, Digital Marketing Concentration
Bachelor’s / Digital, onlineA BBA in Marketing with a dedicated Digital Marketing concentration from the AACSB-accredited Jones College of Business, available online and ranked among the top programs of its kind in the country.
- Dedicated digital marketing concentration
- Available fully online
- AACSB-accredited, in the Nashville metro
- Broad business core
- Confirm on-campus vs online mix
Belmont University (Jack C. Massey) — Marketing
Bachelor’sA marketing degree from Belmont’s AACSB-accredited Massey College of Business in the heart of Nashville, with the option to combine marketing with additional business programs of study.
- AACSB-accredited private university
- Nashville location and network
- Combinable with other business programs
- Private-university tuition
- On-campus focus
Tennessee master’s degrees in marketing & digital marketing
Vanderbilt University (Owen) — Master of Marketing
Master’s / EliteA 10-month, 31-credit Master of Marketing from Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School, built on MBA-level courses, real-world immersions, and coverage of big-data analytics, social, and digital marketing, with 84% of recent graduates placed within six months.
- Elite Vanderbilt credential
- Fast, 10-month completion
- Strong placement outcomes
- Premium tuition
- Highly competitive admission
Middle Tennessee State University (Jones) — MBA, Strategic Marketing Analytics
Master’sAn AACSB-accredited MBA with a Strategic Marketing Analytics concentration from MTSU’s Jones College of Business, pairing management breadth with data-driven marketing, available on campus and online.
- AACSB-accredited MBA credential
- Marketing analytics concentration
- On-campus and online options
- MBA breadth rather than pure digital marketing
- Graduate admissions requirements
Other Tennessee options worth comparing include the University of Memphis’s AACSB-accredited Fogelman College (with an online BBA in Marketing), Lipscomb University, and Tennessee Tech.
Digital marketing salaries in Tennessee
A degree pays off across a career ladder, not a single job. Graduates start in specialist roles and move toward management, which is where a degree especially helps.
| Career stage | TN median pay | BLS category |
|---|---|---|
| Entry / specialist (SEO, PPC, social, analyst) | ~$69,790 (Nashville ~$77,240, Memphis ~$71,600) | Market Research Analysts & Marketing Specialists (13-1161) |
| Marketing manager / director | ~$131,990 (Nashville ~$135,370, Memphis ~$132,540) | Marketing Managers (11-2021) |
Source: BLS OEWS, Tennessee, May 2025. Management roles usually require experience and often a degree, which is where these programs pay off.
How to pay for a digital marketing degree in Tennessee
Because these are accredited programs, the full range of student aid applies, which is the main cost advantage a degree has over a bootcamp:
- Federal aid. File the FAFSA for Pell Grants (undergraduate) and federal student loans (undergraduate and graduate).
- Tennessee HOPE Scholarship. Tennessee residents may qualify for the lottery-funded Tennessee HOPE Scholarship, plus Tennessee Promise for community-college students.
- In-state tuition. Tennessee residents pay far less at public universities such as UT and MTSU than out-of-state or private students.
- Scholarships & assistantships. Institutional scholarships, graduate assistantships, and employer tuition reimbursement can offset costs, especially at the master’s level.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a digital marketing degree cost in Tennessee?
In-state tuition at public universities like UT Knoxville and MTSU is the most affordable route, especially with the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship, while private universities like Belmont and Vanderbilt cost more. Because these programs are accredited, federal aid and scholarships can offset much of the cost.
Can you get a digital marketing degree online in Tennessee?
Yes. MTSU offers its BBA in Marketing with a Digital Marketing concentration online, and the University of Memphis offers an online BBA in Marketing.
Is a digital marketing degree worth it, or should you do a bootcamp?
It depends on your goals. A bootcamp or certificate is faster and cheaper for entry-level skills. A degree costs more and takes longer, but it is federally aid-eligible, broader, and generally expected for management roles, where Nashville pay reaches a median near $135,370 (BLS).
What can you earn with a digital marketing degree in Tennessee?
Specialist roles have a median near $69,790 in Tennessee, rising to roughly $131,990 for marketing managers, with Nashville and Memphis higher still (BLS, May 2025).
