Best Bachelor's Web Development Degree Programs in Tennessee
Lipscomb University — Nashville, TN
Key Distinction: Lipscomb combines computer science rigor with direct access to Nashville's major tech employers, preparing graduates for both immediate impact as developers and long-term advancement into technical leadership.
Hakia Insight: Lipscomb's location in Nashville's healthcare IT ecosystem (HCA, Vanderbilt, Cigna operations) gives computer science graduates immediate access to regulated-industry roles where algorithmic rigor meets real-world complexity.
At the bachelor's level, lipscomb University's computer science program offers a rigorous web development pathway that emphasizes both the mathematical foundations of computing and the practical skills demanded by the industry. The curriculum progresses systematically from foundational data structures and algorithms through web-specific technologies, ensuring students understand not just what to build but why certain solutions are optimal for different constraints. Lipscomb distinguishes itself through its proximity to Nashville's thriving tech ecosystem—home to major healthcare technology companies, fintech startups, and creative agencies—which translates into internship pipelines, guest lectures from industry leaders, and direct recruitment from employers. The program benefits from Lipscomb's investment in modern labs and equipment; students work with current development tools and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) rather than outdated technology. Faculty include researchers with publications in computer science venues as well as practitioners maintaining active consulting relationships with Nashville-area companies, ensuring the curriculum stays current. Beyond the technical track, Lipscomb emphasizes communication and leadership development, recognizing that advancement into senior engineering or product roles requires more than coding ability. The university's selective admissions and relatively small student body create a peer cohort of motivated, high-achieving students, fostering both collaborative learning and competitive excellence. Graduates consistently report that the combination of technical rigor and professional development positioned them well for career advancement.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Web Development — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Web Development — 4 years, online
Location Advantages: Nashville, TN tech hub with major healthcare IT, fintech, and creative agenciesDirect pipeline to regional tech employers
Johnson University — Knoxville, TN
Hakia Insight: Johnson & Wales' three-year design degree model creates an unusual arbitrage opportunity: students graduate 12 months earlier than peers while still earning the same credential, effectively front-loading career earnings and experience during the window when most competitors are still in school.
Johnson & Wales University offers a three-year career-focused Design Bachelor's degree that allows students to save on tuition, graduate one year earlier, and start their career faster. Students work on real-world projects for actual clients, build portfolios, and showcase their work at the annual Design Student Reveal Exhibit where industry professionals see their creativity in action.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Web Development — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Web Development — 4 years, online
Location Advantages:
King University — Bristol, TN
Hakia Insight: King University's dual BS/BA structure in web development suggests flexibility between technical depth and liberal arts integration, though limited public data on employer outcomes makes it difficult to assess whether this choice meaningfully differentiates graduates in hiring.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Web Development — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Web Development — 4 years, online
Location Advantages:
Belmont University — Nashville, TN
Key Distinction: Belmont's web development program uniquely bridges technical rigor with design-forward thinking, leveraging Nashville's creative economy to build graduates who can navigate both code and user experience challenges.
Hakia Insight: Belmont's Nashville location isn't incidental—the city's established creative economy (music, film, brand agencies) means students can build portfolios on live client work before graduation, giving them a portfolio depth advantage over graduates from tech-saturated regions where competition for internships is fiercer.
At the bachelor's level, belmont's web development curriculum centers on full-stack competency with particular strength in front-end frameworks and user experience design, shaped by the school's creative ethos in Nashville. The program emphasizes modern JavaScript ecosystems (React, Vue, Angular) alongside backend technologies, with consistent integration of design thinking—a natural fit given Belmont's proximity to a thriving creative industry. Students engage in hands-on capstone projects that mirror real client work, often collaborating with Nashville-based startups and media companies. The faculty blend academic rigor with practical industry experience, regularly updating coursework to reflect current market demands. Internship placements are robust, with many students securing positions at tech companies before graduation. The curriculum also covers essential soft skills: version control workflows, agile methodologies, and technical communication—preparation that resonates strongly with employers. Career outcomes show graduates moving into mid-level developer roles at established tech firms, creative agencies, and media companies, with particular strength in positions requiring both technical depth and design sensibility.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Web Development — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Web Development — 4 years, online
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Amazon, Oracle.
Location Advantages: Nashville tech and creative industry ecosystemGrowing startup scene in Music CityProximity to media and entertainment companies
Union University — Jackson, TN
Key Distinction: Union University differentiates its web development program through embedded ethics, secure coding practices, and liberal arts integration that prepares technically skilled developers with strong communication and leadership foundations.
Hakia Insight: Union University embeds ethics and secure coding into core curriculum rather than as electives, a structural choice that signals graduates understand threat modeling and compliance—skills most entry-level developers lack but enterprises increasingly require in hiring.
At the bachelor's level, union University's web development instruction is embedded within a Computer Science program that prioritizes interdisciplinary thinking and ethical technology practice. The program's hallmark is a collaborative learning environment where web developers work alongside peers in cybersecurity, data science, and software engineering, fostering a culture of knowledge-sharing and cross-disciplinary problem-solving. Curriculum covers full-stack development (front-end frameworks, backend infrastructure, databases) while maintaining a distinctive emphasis on secure coding practices and responsible technology design—preparation that reflects not just current market demand but evolving professional expectations around software ethics. Small class sizes and close faculty mentorship characterize the experience, enabling personalized guidance on capstone projects and career trajectories. Union's liberal arts foundation also means web development students engage with courses in communication, business, and humanities, developing the interpersonal and strategic thinking skills that distinguish senior developers and technical leaders from entry-level coders.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Web Development — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Web Development — 4 years, online
Location Advantages:
Trevecca Nazarene University — Nashville, TN
Key Distinction: Trevecca Nazarene University offers comprehensive Web Development programs preparing students for careers in technology.
Hakia Insight: Without published employer data, top employer listings, or program distinctions beyond institutional mission, Trevecca's web development offering lacks the competitive differentiation signals prospective students use to distinguish it from nearby alternatives in Nashville's web development education market.
Trevecca Nazarene University offers Web Development programs in Nashville, TN. As a private institution, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
Best Master's Web Development Degree Programs in Tennessee
East Tennessee State University — Johnson City, TN
Key Distinction: ETSU's web development program stands apart for its focus on scalable, accessible architecture and real-world deployment—preparing graduates to thrive in constrained, pragmatic environments beyond Silicon Valley.
Hakia Insight: ETSU's explicit focus on accessibility and scalable architecture for regional/rural deployment fills a gap most master's programs ignore—graduates are positioned for the 60% of tech jobs that exist outside coastal metros, where legacy system modernization pays well and faces fewer candidates with relevant experience.
At the master's level, ETSU's web development offerings emerge from a computer science foundation that privileges accessibility, scalability, and emerging web technologies suited to regional and rural connectivity challenges. The program incorporates modern frameworks within a broader systems-thinking context, ensuring graduates understand not just how to build web applications but how to architect them for diverse deployment environments. Faculty emphasize open-source contributions and collaborative development practices, with students regularly engaged in projects that have real-world deployment beyond campus. The Tri-Cities region, while not a major tech hub, provides a deliberate advantage: internship and project-based learning often target regional businesses modernizing their digital infrastructure, giving students exposure to legacy system integration alongside greenfield development. This creates a distinctive graduate profile—developers comfortable with technical debt, system constraints, and pragmatic problem-solving rather than purely cutting-edge abstractions. Career trajectories reflect strong placement in mid-market companies, government technology roles, and organizations serving underserved communities.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Web Development — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in Web Development — 1-2 years, online
Accreditations and Certifications
- Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET
Location Advantages: Tri-Cities regional business modernization demandAccess to Appalachian technology and economic development initiatives