Best Colleges in Tennessee

57
Universities
49
Community Colleges
106
Total Institutions

Explore 106 colleges and universities in Tennessee, ranked by the Repit College Score. Our ratings evaluate graduation rates, affordability, resources, and student experience.

#1
A

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • 13,456 students
Private Non-Profit
93%
Grad Rate
#2
B+

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN • 36,304 students
Public
73%
Grad Rate
$21k
Net Price
#3
B

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, TN • 20,183 students
Public
54%
Grad Rate
$13k
Net Price
15%
Off-Campus
#4
B

Rhodes College

Memphis, TN • 1,952 students
Private Non-Profit
82%
Grad Rate
#5
B

The University of the South

Sewanee, TN • 1,693 students
Private Non-Profit
82%
Grad Rate
#6
B

Mid-South Christian College

Memphis, TN • 32 students
Private Non-Profit
75%
Grad Rate
#7
B

Union University

Jackson, TN • 2,674 students
Private Non-Profit
71%
Grad Rate
#8
C+

The University of Tennessee-Martin

Martin, TN • 6,941 students
Public
55%
Grad Rate
$11k
Net Price
8%
Off-Campus
#9
C+

Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, TN • 10,117 students
Public
54%
Grad Rate
$15k
Net Price
7%
Off-Campus
#10
C+

Lincoln Memorial University

Harrogate, TN • 5,805 students
Private Non-Profit
54%
Grad Rate
#11
C+

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Chattanooga, TN • 11,380 students
Public
53%
Grad Rate
$14k
Net Price
#12
C+

University of Memphis

Memphis, TN • 21,736 students
Public
49%
Grad Rate
$14k
Net Price
13%
Off-Campus
#13
C+

Lipscomb University

Nashville, TN • 5,047 students
Private Non-Profit
69%
Grad Rate
#14
C+

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, TN • 13,586 students
Public
50%
Grad Rate
$16k
Net Price
14%
Off-Campus
#15
C+

Belmont University

Nashville, TN • 8,862 students
Private Non-Profit
72%
Grad Rate
#16
C+

Lee University

Cleveland, TN • 3,680 students
Private Non-Profit
61%
Grad Rate
#17
C+

Tennessee State University

Nashville, TN • 8,198 students
Public
33%
Grad Rate
$9k
Net Price
#18
C+

Visible Music College

Memphis, TN • 182 students
Private Non-Profit
48%
Grad Rate
#19
C+

American Baptist College

Nashville, TN • 48 students
Private Non-Profit
33%
Grad Rate
#20
C+

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, TN • 9,945 students
Public
45%
Grad Rate
$15k
Net Price
15%
Off-Campus
#21
C+

Baptist Health Sciences University

Memphis, TN • 755 students
Private Non-Profit
54%
Grad Rate
#22
C+

Fisk University

Nashville, TN • 1,005 students
Private Non-Profit
44%
Grad Rate
#23
C+

Johnson University

Knoxville, TN • 950 students
Private Non-Profit
62%
Grad Rate
#24
C+

Southern Adventist University

Collegedale, TN • 3,154 students
Private Non-Profit
51%
Grad Rate
#25
C+

Welch College

Gallatin, TN • 389 students
Private Non-Profit
61%
Grad Rate
#26
C+

Freed-Hardeman University

Henderson, TN • 2,294 students
Private Non-Profit
68%
Grad Rate
#27
C+

Bryan College-Dayton

Dayton, TN • 1,548 students
Private Non-Profit
56%
Grad Rate
#28
C+

Milligan University

Milligan, TN • 1,200 students
Private Non-Profit
60%
Grad Rate
#29
C

Nossi College of Art and Design

Nashville, TN • 278 students
Private For-Profit
35%
Grad Rate
#30
C

Christian Brothers University

Memphis, TN • 2,043 students
Private Non-Profit
56%
Grad Rate
#31
C

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Memphis, TN • 3,121 students
Public
#32
C

Meharry Medical College

Nashville, TN • 1,083 students
Private Non-Profit
#33
C

Tennessee Wesleyan University

Athens, TN • 1,074 students
Private Non-Profit
44%
Grad Rate
#34
C

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, TN • 3,196 students
Private Non-Profit
55%
Grad Rate
#35
C

Carson-Newman University

Jefferson City, TN • 2,735 students
Private Non-Profit
46%
Grad Rate
#36
C

Cumberland University

Lebanon, TN • 3,072 students
Private Non-Profit
47%
Grad Rate
#37
C

Le Moyne-Owen College

Memphis, TN • 646 students
Private Non-Profit
25%
Grad Rate
#38
C

The University of Tennessee Southern

Pulaski, TN • 978 students
Public
36%
Grad Rate
$16k
Net Price
#39
C

Maryville College

Maryville, TN • 1,147 students
Private Non-Profit
47%
Grad Rate
#40
C

Williamson Christian College

Franklin, TN • 57 students
Private Non-Profit
50%
Grad Rate
#41
C

King University

Bristol, TN • 1,295 students
Private Non-Profit
46%
Grad Rate
#42
C

Tusculum University

Greeneville, TN • 1,200 students
Private Non-Profit
31%
Grad Rate
#43
C

SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville

Nashville, TN • 1,800 students
Private For-Profit
46%
Grad Rate
#44
C

Bethel University

McKenzie, TN • 2,974 students
Private Non-Profit
35%
Grad Rate
#45
C

Memphis Theological Seminary

Memphis, TN • 195 students
Private Non-Profit
#46
C

Southern College of Optometry

Memphis, TN • 525 students
Private Non-Profit
#47
C

Pentecostal Theological Seminary

Cleveland, TN • 501 students
Private Non-Profit
#48
C

Lane College

Jackson, TN • 822 students
Private Non-Profit
17%
Grad Rate
#49
C

South College

Knoxville, TN • 8,234 students
Private For-Profit
37%
Grad Rate
#50
D

The University of Tennessee System Office

Knoxville, TN
Public
#51
D

Richmont Graduate University

Chattanooga, TN • 351 students
Private Non-Profit
#52
D

Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Inc

Madison, TN • 308 students
Private Non-Profit
#53
D

Omega Graduate School

Dayton, TN • 62 students
Private Non-Profit
#54
D

Herzing University-Nashville

Nashville, TN • 75 students
Private Non-Profit
#55
D

Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga

Chattanooga, TN • 3,667 students
Private For-Profit
56%
Grad Rate
#56
D

Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus

Nashville, TN • 763 students
Private For-Profit
#57
F

Strayer University-Tennessee

Memphis, TN • 2,920 students
Private For-Profit
0%
Grad Rate
#1
B

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson

Jackson, TN • 2,427 students
Public
74%
Grad Rate
$10k
Net Price
#2
B

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Oneida-Huntsville

Huntsville, TN • 462 students
Public
70%
Grad Rate
$12k
Net Price
#3
B

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crossville

Crossville, TN • 706 students
Public
82%
Grad Rate
$6k
Net Price
#4
B

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton

Elizabethton, TN • 1,093 students
Public
79%
Grad Rate
$10k
Net Price
#5
B

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jacksboro

Jacksboro, TN • 422 students
Public
80%
Grad Rate
$6k
Net Price
#6
C+

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski

Pulaski, TN • 705 students
Public
70%
Grad Rate
$10k
Net Price
#7
C+

Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville

Nashville, TN • 1,171 students
Public
71%
Grad Rate
$12k
Net Price
#8
C+

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville

Hartsville, TN • 701 students
Public
76%
Grad Rate
$7k
Net Price
#9
C+

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Dickson

Dickson, TN • 1,229 students
Public
76%
Grad Rate
$9k
Net Price
#10
C+

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzie

McKenzie, TN • 170 students
Public
63%
Grad Rate
$4k
Net Price
#11
C+

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Morristown

Morristown, TN • 714 students
Public
76%
Grad Rate
$10k
Net Price
#12
C+

Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest

Newbern, TN • 2,302 students
Public
65%
Grad Rate
$11k
Net Price
#13
C+

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Henry/Carroll

Paris, TN • 278 students
Public
67%
Grad Rate
$7k
Net Price
#14
C+

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN • 1,206 students
Public
70%
Grad Rate
$10k
Net Price
#15
C+

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston

Livingston, TN • 1,093 students
Public
73%
Grad Rate
$13k
Net Price
#16
C+

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro

Murfreesboro, TN • 630 students
Public
74%
Grad Rate
$9k
Net Price
#17
C+

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump

Crump, TN • 1,412 students
Public
62%
Grad Rate
$3k
Net Price
#18
C+

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnville

McMinnville, TN • 656 students
Public
67%
Grad Rate
$8k
Net Price
#19
C+

North Central Institute

Clarksville, TN • 55 students
Private For-Profit
85%
Grad Rate
#20
C+

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Harriman

Harriman, TN • 719 students
Public
71%
Grad Rate
$10k
Net Price
#21
C+

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville

Shelbyville, TN • 544 students
Public
68%
Grad Rate
$7k
Net Price
#22
C+

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hohenwald

Hohenwald, TN • 1,506 students
Public
50%
Grad Rate
$10k
Net Price
#23
C+

Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville

Nashville, TN • 1,062 students
Private For-Profit
64%
Grad Rate
#24
C

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis

Memphis, TN • 1,691 students
Public
40%
Grad Rate
$10k
Net Price
#25
C

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Athens

Athens, TN • 365 students
Public
58%
Grad Rate
$5k
Net Price
#26
C

Walters State Community College

Morristown, TN • 5,833 students
Public
36%
Grad Rate
$5k
Net Price
#27
C

Chattanooga State Community College

Chattanooga, TN • 6,601 students
Public
22%
Grad Rate
$6k
Net Price
#28
C

Pellissippi State Community College

Knoxville, TN • 8,710 students
Public
28%
Grad Rate
$7k
Net Price
#29
C

Northeast State Community College

Blountville, TN • 5,474 students
Public
32%
Grad Rate
$7k
Net Price
#30
C

Columbia State Community College

Columbia, TN • 5,115 students
Public
31%
Grad Rate
$7k
Net Price
#31
C

Roane State Community College

Harriman, TN • 4,822 students
Public
32%
Grad Rate
$3k
Net Price
#32
C

Motlow State Community College

Tullahoma, TN • 6,060 students
Public
29%
Grad Rate
$12k
Net Price
#33
C

Southwest Tennessee Community College

Memphis, TN • 6,980 students
Public
19%
Grad Rate
$5k
Net Price
#34
C

Volunteer State Community College

Gallatin, TN • 6,605 students
Public
24%
Grad Rate
$6k
Net Price
#35
C

William R Moore College of Technology

Memphis, TN • 461 students
Private Non-Profit
47%
Grad Rate
#36
C

Nashville Film Institute

Nashville, TN • 33 students
Private For-Profit
56%
Grad Rate
#37
C

Cleveland State Community College

Cleveland, TN • 3,254 students
Public
29%
Grad Rate
$7k
Net Price
#38
C

Nashville State Community College

Nashville, TN • 6,608 students
Public
17%
Grad Rate
$7k
Net Price
#39
C

Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers

Chattanooga, TN • 311 students
Private For-Profit
87%
Grad Rate
#40
C

Dyersburg State Community College

Dyersburg, TN • 3,143 students
Public
27%
Grad Rate
$5k
Net Price
#41
C

Jackson State Community College

Jackson, TN • 3,078 students
Public
20%
Grad Rate
$8k
Net Price
#42
D

Tennessee Board of Regents

Nashville, TN
Public
#43
D

Remington College-Nashville Campus

Nashville, TN • 279 students
Private Non-Profit
58%
Grad Rate
#44
D

Fortis Institute-Nashville

Nashville, TN • 392 students
Private For-Profit
52%
Grad Rate
#45
D

Fortis Institute-Cookeville

Cookeville, TN • 301 students
Private For-Profit
32%
Grad Rate
#46
D

Concorde Career College-Memphis

Memphis, TN • 420 students
Private For-Profit
51%
Grad Rate
#47
D

John A Gupton College

Nashville, TN • 160 students
Private Non-Profit
31%
Grad Rate
#48
F

Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting

Nashville, TN • 788 students
Private For-Profit
#49
F

Remington College-Memphis Campus

Memphis, TN • 391 students
Private Non-Profit
33%
Grad Rate

Cities with Multiple Colleges

Murfreesboro 2 colleges
Clarksville 2 colleges
Morristown 2 colleges
Pulaski 2 colleges
Jackson 4 colleges
Knoxville 6 colleges
Harriman 2 colleges
McKenzie 2 colleges
Athens 2 colleges
Gallatin 2 colleges
Cleveland 3 colleges
Memphis 16 colleges
Nashville 21 colleges
Cookeville 2 colleges
Chattanooga 5 colleges
Dayton 2 colleges

About College Rankings in Tennessee

The Repit College Score ranks 106 colleges and universities in Tennessee based on outcomes (graduation rates, retention), affordability (net cost, financial aid), resources (class sizes, faculty ratios), and student experience (campus life, housing options).

4-Year Universities (57): Bachelor's degree-granting institutions including public universities, private colleges, and research institutions.

2-Year Colleges (49): Community colleges and technical schools offering associate degrees, certificates, and transfer programs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Colleges in Tennessee

How many colleges are in Tennessee?

There are 106 accredited colleges and universities in Tennessee tracked by Repit, including 57 4-year institutions and 49 community colleges. Each school is rated using our proprietary scoring system that evaluates outcomes, affordability, and resources.

How does Repit rate colleges?

Repit rates colleges on a 100-point scale across five categories: Outcomes (graduation and retention rates), Affordability (net cost and financial aid), Resources (class sizes and selectivity), Experience (campus life and learning format), and Prestige (reputation and recognition). Each factor is weighted and combined into an overall score and letter grade.

Should I attend a public or private college in Tennessee?

Tennessee has both public and private institutions. Public schools often offer lower tuition for state residents, while private schools may provide more financial aid. Compare net prices and outcomes using Repit's detailed college profiles to find the best value for your situation.

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: September 2026 | Methodology