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    Top Colleges in Tennessee

    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman Written by Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman
    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman

    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

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    Learn about our editorial policies

    Updated: June 6th, 2024

    You’ve heard about the barbecue, you’ve heard about the country music and the Great Smoky Mountains. But did you know that Tennessee is also home to many great colleges and universities? The state is home to Ivy League member Vanderbilt University, as well as Berea College, a groundbreaking institution that offers tuition-free education to its students. And those are only two on a long list of great college options. Check out our list below to find your Tennessee college match.

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    22 colleges
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    V

    Vanderbilt University

    Nashville, TN • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt University is known for its strong programs in law, medicine, and education. The university emphasizes research and interdisciplinary studies, and notable alumni include Al Gore…Read More

    Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt University is known for its…Read More

    7% acceptance
    93% graduation rate
    7,144 undergrads
    $20,917 net price
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    R

    Rhodes College

    Memphis, TN • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Rhodes College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Memphis, Tennessee. There are currently 1,966 undergraduates at Rhodes and the school’s acceptance rate is 54%. The tuition at Rhodes…

    Rhodes College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    54% acceptance
    85% graduation rate
    1,966 undergrads
    $26,604 net price
    B

    Baptist Health Sciences University

    Memphis, TN • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Baptist Health Sciences University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Memphis, Tennessee. There are currently 777 undergraduates at Baptist Health Sciences and the school’s acceptance rate is 41%.…

    Baptist Health Sciences University is a private, non-profit 4-year college…Read More

    41% acceptance
    58% graduation rate
    777 undergrads
    $9,649 net price
    S

    The University of the South

    Sewanee, TN • Private, Non-Profit, Rural

    The University of the South is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Sewanee, Tennessee. There are currently 1,599 undergraduates at Sewanee and the school’s acceptance rate is 52%. The…

    The University of the South is a private, non-profit 4-year…Read More

    52% acceptance
    81% graduation rate
    1,599 undergrads
    $26,357 net price
    T

    The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

    Knoxville, TN • Public, City

    The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is a public 4-year college located in Knoxville, Tennessee. There are currently 26,905 undergraduates at UT Knoxville and the school’s acceptance rate is 68%. The tuition…

    The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is a public 4-year college located…Read More

    68% acceptance
    73% graduation rate
    26,905 undergrads
    $19,400 net price
    L

    Lipscomb University

    Nashville, TN • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Lipscomb University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Nashville, Tennessee. There are currently 2,950 undergraduates at Lipscomb and the school’s acceptance rate is 71%. The tuition at Lipscomb…

    Lipscomb University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    71% acceptance
    69% graduation rate
    2,950 undergrads
    $26,070 net price
    F

    Freed-Hardeman University

    Henderson, TN • Private, Non-Profit, Town

    Top College Top Affordability
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Freed-Hardeman University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Henderson, Tennessee. There are currently 1,384 undergraduates at Freed-Hardeman and the school’s acceptance rate is 91%. The tuition at Freed-Hardeman…

    Freed-Hardeman University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    91% acceptance
    70% graduation rate
    1,384 undergrads
    $18,490 net price
    T

    Tennessee Technological University

    Cookeville, TN • Public, Town

    Tennessee Technological University is a public 4-year college located in Cookeville, Tennessee. There are currently 8,341 undergraduates at Tennessee Tech and the school’s acceptance rate is 78%. The tuition at…

    Tennessee Technological University is a public 4-year college located in…Read More

    78% acceptance
    60% graduation rate
    8,341 undergrads
    $14,426 net price
    B

    Bryan College-Dayton

    Dayton, TN • Private, Non-Profit, Town

    Bryan College-Dayton is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Dayton, Tennessee. There are currently 882 undergraduates at Bryan College. The tuition at Bryan College is $17,900.

    Bryan College-Dayton is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    --% acceptance
    51% graduation rate
    882 undergrads
    $16,085 net price
    U

    Union University

    Jackson, TN • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Union University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Jackson, Tennessee. There are currently 1,731 undergraduates at Union and the school’s acceptance rate is 53%. The tuition at Union…

    Union University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    53% acceptance
    67% graduation rate
    1,731 undergrads
    $28,533 net price
    M

    Middle Tennessee State University

    Murfreesboro, TN • Public, City

    Middle Tennessee State University is a public 4-year college located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. There are currently 16,239 undergraduates at MTSU and the school’s acceptance rate is 73%. The tuition at…

    Middle Tennessee State University is a public 4-year college located…Read More

    73% acceptance
    55% graduation rate
    16,239 undergrads
    $13,267 net price
    T

    The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

    Chattanooga, TN • Public, City

    The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is a public 4-year college located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. There are currently 9,820 undergraduates at UT Chattanooga and the school’s acceptance rate is 83%. The tuition…

    The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is a public 4-year college located…Read More

    83% acceptance
    52% graduation rate
    9,820 undergrads
    $13,539 net price
    M

    University of Memphis

    Memphis, TN • Public, City

    University of Memphis is a public 4-year college located in Memphis, Tennessee. There are currently 14,181 undergraduates at Memphis and the school’s acceptance rate is 95%. The tuition at Memphis…

    University of Memphis is a public 4-year college located in…Read More

    95% acceptance
    48% graduation rate
    14,181 undergrads
    $13,216 net price
    T

    The University of Tennessee-Martin

    Martin, TN • Public, Town

    The University of Tennessee-Martin is a public 4-year college located in Martin, Tennessee. There are currently 4,629 undergraduates at UT Martin and the school’s acceptance rate is 88%. The tuition…

    The University of Tennessee-Martin is a public 4-year college located…Read More

    88% acceptance
    53% graduation rate
    4,629 undergrads
    $11,952 net price
    B

    Belmont University

    Nashville, TN • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Belmont University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Nashville, Tennessee. There are currently 7,349 undergraduates at Belmont and the school’s acceptance rate is 96%. The tuition at Belmont…

    Belmont University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    96% acceptance
    72% graduation rate
    7,349 undergrads
    $31,860 net price
    W

    Welch College

    Gallatin, TN • Private, Non-Profit, Rural

    Top College Top Affordability
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Welch College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Gallatin, Tennessee. There are currently 247 undergraduates at Welch. The tuition at Welch is $20,170.

    Welch College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    --% acceptance
    59% graduation rate
    247 undergrads
    $18,555 net price
    L

    Lincoln Memorial University

    Harrogate, TN • Private, Non-Profit, Town

    Lincoln Memorial University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Harrogate, Tennessee. There are currently 1,461 undergraduates at LMU and the school’s acceptance rate is 78%. The tuition at…

    Lincoln Memorial University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located…Read More

    78% acceptance
    51% graduation rate
    1,461 undergrads
    $18,859 net price
    C

    Cumberland University

    Lebanon, TN • Private, Non-Profit, Town

    Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Lebanon, Tennessee. There are currently 1,934 undergraduates at Cumberland and the school’s acceptance rate is 66%. The tuition at Cumberland…

    Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    66% acceptance
    49% graduation rate
    1,934 undergrads
    $19,184 net price
    A

    Austin Peay State University

    Clarksville, TN • Public, City

    Austin Peay State University is a public 4-year college located in Clarksville, Tennessee. There are currently 7,054 undergraduates at Austin Peay and the school’s acceptance rate is 94%. The tuition…

    Austin Peay State University is a public 4-year college located…Read More

    94% acceptance
    43% graduation rate
    7,054 undergrads
    $15,914 net price
    B

    Bethel University

    McKenzie, TN • Private, Non-Profit, Town

    Bethel University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in McKenzie, Tennessee. There are currently 2,906 undergraduates at Bethel and the school’s acceptance rate is 89%. The tuition at Bethel…

    Bethel University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    89% acceptance
    45% graduation rate
    2,906 undergrads
    $13,446 net price
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    About the Data

    We sort colleges on our lists according to their Scholarships360 Top Colleges Index Score. This score is calculated using up-to-date information taken directly from the College Scorecard. Additional information is sourced from the colleges themselves, as well as other publicly available information. If you see an error, feel free to contact us.

    State grants in Tennessee 

    Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA):

    The Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA) is a grant for Tennessee students based on financial need. Students attending both private and public postsecondary institutions are eligible for this program.

    Tennessee HOPE Scholarship:

    The Tennessee HOPE Scholarship is a state funded program for Tennessee residents going into their first year of school at a public or private college or university. Eligibility requires students to send in ACT or SAT scores and have a 3.0 GPA. 

    Tennessee Promise Scholarship: 

    Any Tennessee student who is eligible to receive the federal Pell Grant may also be eligible for the Tennessee Promise Scholarship, which provides additional tuition assistance to students attending technical schools, community colleges, or two year programs at participating colleges and universities. Other eligibility requirements include attending a Tennessee Promise Meeting and completing community service hours. 

    Tennessee tuition reciprocity agreements

    Tennessee is a part of the Southern Regional Education Board Academic Common Market, which allows students going to public institutions to out-of-state schools and pay in-state tuition, if their degree is not offered in their home state. These tuition discounts allow students in Tennessee to attend institutions in the following states, and vice versa:

    Other college lists to explore

    Frequently asked questions about colleges in Tennessee

    What is the hardest school in Tennessee to get into?

     The school with the lowest acceptance rate in Tennessee is Vanderbilt University with an acceptance rate of 7%. Vanderbilt is considered a Hidden Ivy, which are not technically Ivy League schools, but in many cases are just as academically rigorous.

    Does Tennessee have tuition reciprocity?

    Yes! Tennessee is one of the 15 states in the Southern Regional Education Board Academic Common Market. This means students have the opportunity to go to out of state schools, and still receive discounted in-state tuition.

    Why should I study in Tennessee?

    Tennessee has many types of postsecondary institutions, from larger public universities to smaller private schools, so there are plenty of options depending on the kind of experience you are looking for. While studying in Tennessee you’ll be able to experience southern culture, namely the hospitality the region is known for. You will also be able to experience some of Tennessee’s famous music scene, as many consider its city of Nashville to be one of the biggest music hubs in the country. So, make sure to take a break from studying every once in a while to go see some live music!

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