Christian colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Tennessee
Christian colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Christian colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Tennessee8 schools
8 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.
How this list is made
- Schools in Tennessee.
- Christian undergraduate colleges on the Compass. Seminaries and graduate-only schools are not counted.
- Faith grade B or better (Faith score 70 or higher). Cost and outcomes never change a grade.
- Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
King University
Bristol, TN · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 7.8 years
- Earnings $59,831 ten years out
- 2
Bryan College-Dayton
Dayton, TN · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 13.6 years
- Earnings $54,434 ten years out
- 3
Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 13.8 years
- Earnings $55,541 ten years out
- 4
Belmont University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 17.5 years
- Earnings $55,930 ten years out
- 5
Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, TN · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 18.2 years
- Earnings $53,723 ten years out
- 6
Union University
Jackson, TN · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 19.3 years
- Earnings $53,990 ten years out
- 7
Trevecca Nazarene University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 66.1 years
- Earnings $49,378 ten years out
- 8
Carson-Newman University
Jefferson City, TN · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 3682.0 years
- Earnings $48,382 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King University | $22,347 | $22,750 | $59,831 | 48% |
| Bryan College-Dayton | $20,614 | $23,000 | $54,434 | 50% |
| Lipscomb University | $24,739 | $19,500 | $55,541 | 72% |
| Belmont University | $33,147 | $20,500 | $55,930 | 71% |
| Southern Adventist University | $24,345 | $24,500 | $53,723 | 49% |
| Union University | $27,171 | $20,714 | $53,990 | 66% |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | $16,813 | $18,744 | $49,378 | 53% |
| Carson-Newman University | $20,251 | $21,500 | $48,382 | 53% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.