University Rankings & Recognitions
University Rankings & Recognitions
As a respected institution of higher learning dedicated to academic excellence and student success, MTSU is proud to be nationally and internationally recognized for the quality of its academic programs.
Among America’s Best
- MTSU was honored to be named to the Princeton Review’s prestigious “Best Colleges” for a sixth year in a row (2020-2025)!
- Forbes’ America’s Top Colleges 2024-2025
- The Wall Street Journal recently recognized MTSU for the first time on its list of America’s Best Colleges 2025!
- U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges (2025, Social Mobility)




Aerospace
- Southwest Airlines and MTSU partner in Destination 225° pilot recruiting program (MTSUNews.com, 2023)
- MTSU’s Aerospace Collegiate Institution has the 2nd most accredited concentrations/majors by AABI (AAB International, 2023)
- Ranked #13 of 25 Best Aviation Schools (GradReports.com, 2020)
- Ranked #17 of Best Drone Training Colleges (SuccessfulStudent.org, 2020)
- One of original eight (8) universities selected to partner with Delta (Delta.com, 2019)
Biology/Forensic Science
- One of 31 FEPAC accredited undergraduate programs in the U.S. and the only one in Tennessee. (American Academy of Forensic Science, 2023)
- Ranked #1 Best Forensic Science College in Tennessee (Universities.com, 2020)
- Ranked #21 in Affordable Forensic Science Programs (UniversityHQ, 2024)
Engineering Technology
- Ranked in top 100 Best Colleges, Engineering Programs (U.S. News & World Report, 2025)
Mathematics
- Ranked #1 Math Teacher Education program in Tennessee (MathColleges.com, 2023)
- Applied and Computational Math program ranked #1 in Tennessee (MathColleges.com, 2023)
- Ranked #2 in Actuarial Science program in Tennessee (MathColleges.com, 2023)
- Ranked #26 for Actuarial Science in the South (MathColleges.com, 2023)
- Ranked #28 for Math teacher Education in the South (MathColleges.com, 2023)
- Ranked in the top 100 Actuarial Science programs in the U.S. (MathColleges.com, 2023)
- Ranked in the top 200 math programs by U.S. News and World Report (USNews.com, 2023)
- One of four universities to receive the 2020 CAS University Award Program for Actuarial Science (Casualty Actuarial Society, 2020)
Mechatronics Engineering
- MTSU has the only Siemens Level 3 Certificate Program in the U.S. (MTSUNews.com, 2019)
Physics
- Ranked #2 Physics program in Tennessee (CollegeFactual.com, 2023)
Criminal Justice
- Ranked #37 online Criminal Justice bachelor degree (MTSUNews.com, 2019)
Nursing
- Ranked #1 nursing program in Tennessee and the only state program ranked in the Top 30 nationwide (NurseJournal.org, 2015)
- Ranked #15 in “America’s Best Nursing Schools” among schools of nursing in the eastern U.S.
- Best Nursing Schools (Abound, 2024)
- Best Master’s of Nursing (Abound, 2024)
- Top Nursing Colleges of Distinction 2024-25 (Colleges of Distinction)
Psychology
- Ranked #1 Industrial/Organizational Psychology Master’s Program in the nation (Society for Industrial/Organizational Psychology, 2018)
- Ranked #19 in Best Psychology Undergraduate Online Degree Program in the U.S. (CollegeChoice.net, 2023)
Social Work
- Ranked #2 for Most Affordable Master’s in Social Work Degrees in Tennessee (SocialWorkDegree.org, 2019)
- Ranked #5 in Best Bachelor’s in Social Work Degrees in Tennessee (SocialWorkDegree.org, 2019)
Tourism and Hospitality Management
- Ranked #19 for the Best Affordable Hospitality Management Degree (UniversityHQ, 2021)
- Ranked #48 in Affordable Hospitality Management Programs (UniversityHQ, 2024)
- Ranked #1 in Best Management Information Systems Schools in Tennessee, Undergraduate (Plexuss, 2022)
- Ranked #1 in Survey of Leading College Insurance and Risk Management Programs (Best’s Review, 2020)
- Ranked #2 for Best Master’s Programs in Supply Chain Management (Intelligent.com, 2023)
- Ranked #2 in Best Value Accounting Master’s Degree Schools in Tennessee (BusinessDegreeCentral.com, 2021)
- Ranked #3 in Best Tennessee MBA Schools and Programs (UniversityHQ, 2023)
- Ranked #3 in Best Online Master’s in Tennessee (Online Masters Colleges, 2023)
- Ranked #3 in Best MBA Degree Programs in Tennessee (UniversityHQ, 2022)
- Ranked #3 in Best Value Accounting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee (BusinessDegreeCentral.com, 2021)
- Ranked #4 in Best AACSB MBA Programs in Tennessee (UniversityHQ, 2024)
- Ranked #4 in Best Master of Management Information Systems Programs (Best Value Schools, 2021)
- Ranked #7 in Best MBA Programs in Tennessee (UniversityHQ, 2024)
- Ranked #7 in Best Finance Programs in Tennessee (UniversityHQ, 2024)
- Ranked #8 in Best Bachelor’s in Digital Marketing Degree Programs (TechGuide, 2024)
- Listed in Top 11 Best Online Master’s in Business Intelligence Programs (Noodle.com, 2019)
- Ranked #12 in Best Marketing Schools in the US to Hire From (TopMarketingCompanies.com, 2020)
- Ranked #15 in Most Affordable Online Master’s Degrees in Supply Chain Management (OnlineU.org, 2020)
- Ranked #17 in Top Colleges for Aspiring Entrepreneurs Report (LendEDU, 2016)
- Ranked #20 in Best Affordable Entreprenuership Program (UniversityHQ, 2023)
- Ranked #20 in Top Affordable Master’s in Supply Chain and Logistics On-Campus Program (GreatValueColleges.net, 2019)
- Ranked #20 for the Best Affordable Entrepreneurship Degree (UniversityHQ)
- Ranked #23 in Online MBA Programs in Economics (UniversityHQ, 2024)
- Ranked #25 in Best Online Master’s in Finance Programs (Intelligent.com, 2020)
- Ranked #26 in Best Online Master’s in Finance Programs (Intelligent.com, 2021)
- Ranked #34 nationally for Best Online Master’s in Finance Programs (OnlineMasters.com, 2019)
- Ranked #35 in Top 50 Best Affordable Entrepreneurship Program (UniversityHQ, 2024)
- Ranked #39 in Best Business Schools for Veterans (Military Times, 2016)
- Ranked #40 in Top 50 Master’s in Management Programs (Top Management Degrees, 2021)
- Ranked #42 in Best Value Accounting Degree Programs (BestValueSchools.net, 2023)
- Ranked #42 in Best Value Accounting Degree Programs (BestValueSchools.net, 2021)
- Ranked #134 for Best Economics Schools (U.S. News and World Report)
- Top Business Colleges of Distinction 2024-25 (Colleges of Distinction)
- Top Business Colleges of Distinction 2023-24 (Colleges of Distinction)
- Top Business Colleges of Distinction 2022-23 (Colleges of Distinction)
- 2024 Best Business Degree Programs Ranking in America (Research.com)
- Ranked #5 for Most Affordable Online Master’s in English Language Learning (College Choice, 2021)
- In-the-field training offered through the undergraduate Elementary Teacher Preparation program was ranked among the nation’s best (USA Today, 2020)
- Ranked #12 most affordable online Master of Library Science program in the country (College Choice, 2020)
- Top Education Colleges of Distinction 2024-25 (Colleges of Distinction)
Liberal Arts
- Ranked #1 Best Liberal Arts School in Tennessee; Ranked 14th nationally (Learn.org, 2017)
- Ranked #1 among Tennessee colleges and universities in Best Liberal Arts General Studies Programs for Veterans and #17 in the U.S. (CollegeFactual.com, 2021)
Music
- Ranked in Top 5 Best Music Schools in Tennessee and Top 15% in the U.S. (#159 out of 1478) (Best-Music-Colleges.com, 2018)
Political Science & International Relations
- Ranked #1 Master of Arts in International Relations program in Tennessee (InternationalRelations.org, 2018)
Communication Studies
- Tennessee Senate Joint Resolution honor in recognition of 2nd international Pubic Debate Asociation national championship and phenomenal season (MTSUNews.com, 2017)
Media Arts
- Ranked #1 Animation School in Tennessee (AnimationCareerReview, 2024)
- Ranked #2 Animation School in Tennessee (AnimationCareerReview.com, 2023)
- Ranked #8 Best Animation Program in the U.S. (AnimationCareerReview, 2023)
- Top 25 (No. 12) Animation Schools and Colleges in the South (AnimationCareerReview, 2023)
- Ranked #2 Animation School in Tennessee (AnimationCareerReview.com, 2020)
- Ranked #2 Best Graphic Design Program in Tennessee (AnimationCareerReview.com, 2020)
- Ranked #9 Best Animation Program in the U.S. (AnimationCareerReviews.com, 2020)
- Top 40 (No. 27) Best Public Animation Schools and Colleges in the U.S. (AnimationCareerReviews.com, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023)
Recording Industry
- Named to Billboard’s “Best Music Business Schools in the U.S.” six years in a row (Billboard.com, 2020)
- Ranked #1 Audio Engineering Schools in the U.S. (Audio Assemble, 2019)
MTSU Online
- Ranked #3 Best Online Master’s in Tennessee (Online Masters Colleges, 2024)
- Ranked #5 Best Online Colleges in Tennessee (UniversityHQ, 2024)
- Ranked #23 Online MBA Programs in Economics (UniversityHQ, 2024)
- Ranked #25 Online Bachelors in Healthcare Administration (UniversityHQ, 2024)
- Ranked #41 in Affordable Organizational Leadership Programs (UniversityHQ, 2024)
Master of Professional Studies
- #2 of the “Most Affordable Online Master’s Programs in Training and Development in the U.S” (Grad School Hub, 2019)
- #2 in the list of “Best Online Master’s in Training and Development Degrees” (OnlineMasters.com, 2019)
- Master of Professional Studies in Human Resources Leadership program ranked in top 25 nationally for great value (OnlineU, 2017)
- The Applied Leadership Program won the 2016 Credit Program Award from the Tennessee Alliance for Continuing Higher Education (TACHE) and the 2016 Leadership Development Excellence Corporate University Best-inClass (CUBIC) Award at Corporate Learning Week. (Tennessee Alliance for Continuing Higher Education, 2016)
Scientia et Humanitas: A Journal of Student Research – Awarded by the National Collegiate Honors Council
- Awarded 1st place for Student Print Winners in the Journal category in 2024
Collage: A Journal of Creative Expression – Awarded by Columbia Scholastic Press Association
- Gold Crown Awards in 2012, 2013, and 2015; Silver Crown Awards in 2007, 2008, 2011, and 2019
Arete: Honors Magazine – Awarded by National Collegiate Honors Council
- Awarded 1st place in Honors Council Newsletter Contest in 2012, 2014, 2016; 2nd place in 2007, 2008, 2010; 3rd place in 2018
See What All The Hype Is About!
Explore more about MTSU.



