Online Cybersecurity Degrees in Tennessee: Salary, Schools & Outlook (2026)

Quick answer: Tennessee employs about 3,330 information security analysts (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through the certifying bodies and employers you are targeting. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.

Compare cybersecurity programs enrolling now:

Licensing and Credentials in Tennessee

Cybersecurity is certification-driven rather than licensed. There is no state board. The credentials employers recruit against come from vendor-neutral bodies - CompTIA at the entry tier and (ISC)2 CISSP at the senior tier are the ones named most often in postings. A degree supplies the systems and networking foundation those certifications assume.

Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with the certifying bodies and employers you are targeting that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.

Earning the Degree While You Work

Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 8 schools within 244 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 8 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

Christian Brothers University

Memphis, TN 195.0 miles away BOC Score 65.2
Tuition $38,420 - $48,038
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 86.7%
  • Graduation rate: 55.3%
  • Programs offered: 9
  • Annual completions: 76
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $68,058 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Lipscomb University

Nashville, TN 22.9 miles away BOC Score 62.5
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 70.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 17
  • Annual completions: 119
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $63,007 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Union University

Jackson, TN 125.8 miles away BOC Score 58.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 68.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 16
  • Annual completions: 45
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $60,152 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Freed-Hardeman University

Henderson, TN 116.1 miles away BOC Score 55.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 69.6% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 10
  • Annual completions: 117
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $50,701 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Milligan University

Milligan, TN 244.1 miles away BOC Score 55.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 61.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 7
  • Annual completions: 51
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $55,216 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Chattanooga, TN 91.1 miles away BOC Score 54.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 14
  • Annual completions: 675
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $57,377 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga

Chattanooga, TN 97.1 miles away BOC Score 38.8
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 58.8%
  • Programs offered: 26
  • Annual completions: 1889
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $34,393 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

What Information Security Analysts Earn in Tennessee

Information Security Analysts in Tennessee earn a median $115,430 per year, below the national median of $129,180 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Cybersecurity Pay and Employment in Tennessee at a Glance

MetricTennesseeNationalSource
Median annual wage$115,430$129,180BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile$63,870$75,090BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile$82,450$97,810BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile$155,590$163,500BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile$250,590$199,850BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment3,330190,650BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient0.831.00BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)not published by state28.5%BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34

How Tennessee Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The Tennessee median of $115,430 sits below the national median of $129,180 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.

A location quotient of 0.83 puts Tennessee below the national average, so the occupation is less concentrated here than in the typical state. Expect a thinner local job market and fewer employers to move between (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.

Where the Jobs Are in Tennessee

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Clarksville$116,94050
Chattanooga$115,160200
Kingsport$102,450110
Knoxville$102,210480
Memphis$97,370490

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Security work concentrates around finance, healthcare, defense and technology employers, and it supports remote work more than most fields, so local employment understates the accessible market.

All Tennessee Metro Areas With Published Data

Chattanooga * Kingsport * Knoxville * Memphis


Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do information security analysts make in Tennessee?

The median annual wage for information security analysts in Tennessee is $115,430, below the national median of $129,180 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $82,450 at the 25th percentile to $155,590 at the 75th.

How many information security analysts work in Tennessee?

Tennessee holds about 3,330 information security analyst jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 190,650, and BLS projects about 16,000 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).

Do I need a license to work as a information security analyst in Tennessee?

Cybersecurity is certification-driven rather than licensed. There is no state board. The credentials employers recruit against come from vendor-neutral bodies - CompTIA at the entry tier and (ISC)2 CISSP at the senior tier are the ones named most often in postings. A degree supplies the systems and networking foundation those certifications assume. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with the certifying bodies and employers you are targeting before you enroll in any program.

Can I earn a bachelor's in cybersecurity or information technology online while working in Tennessee?

Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies the certifying bodies and employers you are targeting.

What is the highest-paying area of Tennessee for information security analysts?

Among Tennessee metro areas with published data, Clarksville reports the highest median at $116,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Is Tennessee a good state for information security analysts?

On pay, the state median of $115,430 sits below the national $129,180 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.83 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Information Security Analysts (SOC 15-1212), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.