Chattanooga, Tennessee has a population of about 182,832. The city’s median household income is $61,028 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 35.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited business administration programs within 100 miles of Chattanooga, with tuition ranging from $10,144 to $37,875 per year. In the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area, the top-earning business administration-related role is Administrative Services Manager at a median $131,150 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer business administration programs. Distances are calculated from Chattanooga city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga State Community College | Chattanooga, TN | 2.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | Chattanooga, TN | 3.1 mi | $10,144 - $23,563 | – |
| Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga | Chattanooga, TN | 4.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale, TN | 11.3 mi | $25,590 - $37,875 | – |
| Lee University | Cleveland, TN | 22.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Tennessee schools on the Tennessee business administration page.
Chattanooga is part of the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area (BLS area code 16860). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Tennessee statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $103,200 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $112,787 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $131,150 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $143,333 |
| Financial Manager | $130,510 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $142,634 |
| Human Resources Manager | $114,450 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $125,082 |
| Management Analyst | $99,490 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $108,732 |
| Project Management Specialist | $83,470 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $91,224 |
| Accountant or Auditor | $73,240 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $80,044 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $57,260 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $62,579 |
| Office and Administrative Support Supervisor | $62,240 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $68,022 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 182,832 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $61,028 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 35.5% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 91.5 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Business Administration-related employment in Hamilton County | 5,814 workers, 941 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 5 business administration programs within 100 miles of Chattanooga. The closest is Chattanooga State Community College in Chattanooga, TN (2.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Lee University (22.4 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying business administration-related roles near Chattanooga are: Administrative Services Manager ($131,150), Financial Manager ($130,510), Human Resources Manager ($114,450). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Tennessee statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
East Ridge, TN is 4.9 miles from Chattanooga and has its own set of local business administration programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Chattanooga’s median household income of $61,028 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Chattanooga while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Tennessee public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Return to Best Online Business Administration Programs in Tennessee (2026)