Green Hills, Nashville, Tennessee, September 4, 2025
A focused look at the practical value of attending Lipscomb University in Green Hills for residents and visitors. The piece summarizes lifetime ROI trends, highlights top-earning majors (pharmacy, educational administration, business, accounting, nursing) with median starting salaries, and outlines student budgeting strategies for housing, transportation, food, and textbooks. It also covers campus career services, internship and entrepreneurship support, and the neighborhood perks that connect study with Nashville’s music, arts, and job market. The bottom line: degree value depends on chosen program, living costs, and how aggressively students use career resources.
Hot Take from the Heart of Music City: What Lipscomb University Means for Locals and Visitors
In Nashville, everybody’s got an opinion — but here’s a clear-eyed rundown for locals and visitors who want the facts about higher education value close to downtown. This is a brisk, no-nonsense look at the practical side of attending a university tucked into Green Hills, what majors pay well, and how students keep cash in their pockets while soaking up that Nashville vibe.
ROI: Does the Degree Pay Off?
When you talk dollars and sense, return on investment is the metric that matters. Historically, this university has shown a positive lifetime ROI, landing it among the higher-ranked Tennessee schools in past ROI studies. For business-minded students, the MBA program delivers a positive return, though it’s lower than the statewide MBA average. Bottom line: graduates generally earn back their education over time, but the pace depends heavily on the program chosen.
Which Majors Lead to Bigger Paychecks?
If immediate earning potential is your priority, here are the programs that tend to lead to stronger starting salaries for graduates (figures are median starting salaries by degree type):
- Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degree) — $117,300
- Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degree) — $79,100
- Business Administration, Management, and Operations (Master’s Degree) — $59,900
- Accounting (Bachelor’s Degree) — $53,000
- Registered Nursing and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor’s Degree) — $51,700
Those numbers give a strong signal: professional health fields and advanced degrees often translate into higher starting pay. For Nashvillians deciding on a major, weigh lifestyle goals against these salary ranges.
Budgeting Like a Local: How to Make College Affordable in Nashville
Living in and around Nashville is part of the draw — but the city has price tags. Here are practical tactics students use to balance costs while enjoying what Music City offers.
Housing
Green Hills is convenient and scenic, but it’s not the cheapest. Students on a tighter budget typically look to neighborhoods a little farther out for lower rent and a community vibe. Shared apartments, housemates, and searching neighborhoods with good transit links are the go-to moves.
Transportation
Owning a car in Nashville is nice but not required. Buses, rideshares, and bike options fill in gaps. Students often mix and match: public transit for daily commute, rideshares for late-night gigs and errands.
Food and Entertainment
Nashville’s food scene is legendary — and it doesn’t have to break the bank. Cooking at home, hitting up local food trucks, and scouting weekday student deals stretch dollars. Entertainment? There’s always free or low-cost live music, outdoor festivals, and community events that let students live the Nashville life without bleeding the bank.
Textbooks & Supplies
Used books, rentals, and digital editions are the standard. Students who plan ahead and buy/rent smart can shave hundreds off each semester.
Career Help That Matters
For students planning a jump into business or entrepreneurship, campus career services and innovation centers provide mentorship, internship leads, and practical guidance. Those resources can be decisive when turning a degree into a paycheck.
Location Perks for Locals and Visitors
Studying here plugs you into an energetic urban scene: music venues, sports, arts, and a growing job market. For visitors who want to tour campuses alongside live music crawls, the setting combines study and sightseeing in one trip.
Quick Reality Check
The value of a degree is a package deal: sticker price, program chosen, local job market, and how aggressively a student uses internships and career services. For Nashville residents thinking about staying local after graduation, the city’s industries — healthcare, education, business, and music-related opportunities — can match well with specific majors listed above.
FAQ
Is the university considered a good financial investment?
Historically, the institution has shown a positive lifetime return for many graduates. Return varies by program and degree level, so comparing projected earnings and costs by major is important.
Historically, the institution has shown a positive lifetime return for many graduates. Return varies by program and degree level, so comparing projected earnings and costs by major is important.
Which majors have the strongest starting salaries?
Programs in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, educational administration at the doctoral level, graduate business, accounting, and nursing report some of the higher median starting salaries.
Programs in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, educational administration at the doctoral level, graduate business, accounting, and nursing report some of the higher median starting salaries.
How can students on a budget enjoy Nashville?
Choose affordable housing farther from campus, use public transit and rideshares, cook at home, buy used textbooks, and seek out free or low-cost local events and live music nights.
Choose affordable housing farther from campus, use public transit and rideshares, cook at home, buy used textbooks, and seek out free or low-cost local events and live music nights.
Are there resources for student entrepreneurs and interns?
Yes, campus-based centers offer mentorship, entrepreneurship support, and internship connections that help students translate skills into work opportunities.
Yes, campus-based centers offer mentorship, entrepreneurship support, and internship connections that help students translate skills into work opportunities.
At-a-Glance Chart: Key Features for Nashville Students & Visitors
| Feature | What It Means for You | Quick Numbers |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime ROI | Generally positive, varies by major and degree level | Ranked among top TN schools in past ROI studies |
| Top earning majors | Best for rapid salary payoff after graduation | Pharmacy $117,300; Ed Admin Doc $79,100; Business Ms $59,900 |
| Housing options | Green Hills best for convenience; other neighborhoods offer savings | Shared rentals reduce monthly cost significantly |
| Student budgeting | Mix transit use, cook more, buy used books | Savings of hundreds per semester possible |
Bottom line for Nashville readers and visitors: weigh program earnings, living costs, and your post-graduation plans. The city offers lifestyle perks and job sectors that align well with several high-value majors — but the smartest financial move is to balance passion with practical earning potential.
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Author: HERE Nashville
The NASHVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENashville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Nashville, Davidson County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as CMA Fest, Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, and Nashville Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and Nashville Health Care Council, plus leading businesses in healthcare, automotive, and technology that power the local economy such as HCA Healthcare, Bridgestone Americas, and Asurion. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBristol.com, HEREChattanooga.com, HEREKnoxville.com, and HEREMemphis.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Tennessee's dynamic landscape.
