Murfreesboro, Tennessee has a population of about 157,547. The city’s median household income is $76,241 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 41.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 3 accredited education programs within 100 miles of Murfreesboro. In the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN metro area, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, Postsecondary at a median $100,460 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer education programs. Distances are calculated from Murfreesboro city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro, TN | 2.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | Nashville, TN | 22.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lee University | Cleveland, TN | 98.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Tennessee schools on the Tennessee education page.
Murfreesboro is part of the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN metro area (BLS area code 34980). 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teacher | $62,100 | Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | $64,486 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $59,420 | Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | $61,703 |
| Middle School Teacher | $60,330 | Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | $62,648 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $65,890 | Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | $68,422 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $97,660 | Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | $101,412 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $100,460 | Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | $104,320 |
| Tutor | $59,280 | Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | $61,558 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $60,650 | Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | $62,980 |
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 | 157,547 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $76,241 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 41.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 96.3 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Education-related employment in Rutherford County | 1,073 workers, 135 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 3 education programs within 100 miles of Murfreesboro. The closest is Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN (2.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Lee University (98.5 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near Murfreesboro are: Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($100,460), Education Administrator, K-12 ($97,660), Education Teacher, Postsecondary ($65,890). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Tennessee statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Smyrna, TN is 10.6 miles from Murfreesboro and has its own set of local education programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Murfreesboro’s median household income of $76,241 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Murfreesboro 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 Education Programs in Tennessee (2026)