Best Colleges in Tennessee
The top colleges in Tennessee by graduate outcomes, plus all 138 schools compared on cost, admissions, and earnings.
Best Colleges in Tennessee, Ranked
The top 8 four-year colleges in Tennessee by graduation rate and 10-year graduate earnings, from federal College Scorecard data. A data-backed shortlist to start from, not a substitute for finding the right fit.
- 1Vanderbilt UniversityNashville · Private nonprofit93%Grad$19,040Net Price$86,200Earnings
- 2Rhodes CollegeMemphis · Private nonprofit85%Grad$28,585Net Price$64,800Earnings
- 3University of the SouthSewanee · Private nonprofit80%Grad$27,872Net Price$51,700Earnings
- 4University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville · Public74%Grad$18,976Net Price$56,700Earnings
- 5Lipscomb UniversityNashville · Private nonprofit72%Grad$24,739Net Price$51,500Earnings
- 6Belmont UniversityNashville · Private nonprofit71%Grad$33,147Net Price$51,500Earnings
- 7Union UniversityJackson · Private nonprofit71%Grad$26,815Net Price$49,600Earnings
- 8Freed-Hardeman UniversityHenderson · Private nonprofit71%Grad$21,574Net Price$41,100Earnings
Public Universities(46)
University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville · Public
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro · Public
University of Memphis
Memphis · Public
University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga · Public
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City · Public
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville · Public
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville · Public
Pellissippi State Community College
Knoxville · Public
Tennessee State University
Nashville · Public
Nashville State Community College
Nashville · Public
Chattanooga State Community College
Chattanooga · Public
Volunteer State Community College
Gallatin · Public
Southwest Tennessee Community College
Memphis · Public
University of Tennessee-Martin
Martin · Public
Northeast State Community College
Blountville · Public
Motlow State Community College
Tullahoma · Public
Columbia State Community College
Columbia · Public
Walters State Community College
Morristown · Public
Roane State Community College
Harriman · Public
Jackson State Community College
Jackson · Public
Dyersburg State Community College
Dyersburg · Public
Cleveland State Community College
Cleveland · Public
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis
Memphis · Public
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville
Knoxville · Public
University of Tennessee Southern
Pulaski · Public
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville
Nashville · Public
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest
Newbern · Public
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Dickson
Dickson · Public
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro · Public
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Morristown
Morristown · Public
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson
Jackson · Public
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton
Elizabethton · Public
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville
Shelbyville · Public
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump
Crump · Public
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Upper Cumberland
Crossville · Public
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hohenwald
Hohenwald · Public
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston
Livingston · Public
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnville
McMinnville · Public
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville
Hartsville · Public
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Harriman
Harriman · Public
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski
Pulaski · Public
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jacksboro
Jacksboro · Public
TCAT Athens
Athens · Public
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Henry/Carroll
Paris · Public
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Oneida-Huntsville
Huntsville · Public
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzie
McKenzie · Public
Private Colleges & Universities(81)
South College
Knoxville · Private for-profit
Vanderbilt University
Nashville · Private nonprofit
Belmont University
Nashville · Private nonprofit
Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga
Chattanooga · Private for-profit
Lipscomb University
Nashville · Private nonprofit
Southern Adventist University
Collegedale · Private nonprofit
Lee University
Cleveland · Private nonprofit
Cumberland University
Lebanon · Private nonprofit
Rhodes College
Memphis · Private nonprofit
Trevecca Nazarene University
Nashville · Private nonprofit
Union University
Jackson · Private nonprofit
University of the South
Sewanee · Private nonprofit
Lincoln Memorial University
Harrogate · Private nonprofit
Carson-Newman University
Jefferson City · Private nonprofit
Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson · Private nonprofit
Fisk University
Nashville · Private nonprofit
Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus
Nashville · Private for-profit
Maryville College
Maryville · Private nonprofit
Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville
Nashville · Private for-profit
King University
Bristol · Private nonprofit
Christian Brothers University
Memphis · Private nonprofit
Tusculum University
Greeneville · Private nonprofit
Tennessee Wesleyan University
Athens · Private nonprofit
Milligan University
Milligan · Private nonprofit
Bryan College-Dayton
Dayton · Private nonprofit
Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting
Nashville · Private for-profit
Johnson University
Knoxville · Private nonprofit
Lane College
Jackson · Private nonprofit
Le Moyne-Owen College
Memphis · Private nonprofit
Concorde Career College-Memphis
Memphis · Private for-profit
William R Moore College of Technology
Memphis · Private nonprofit
Fortis Institute-Nashville
Nashville · Private for-profit
Tennessee School of Beauty of Knoxville Inc
Knoxville · Private for-profit
Fortis Institute-Cookeville
Cookeville · Private for-profit
Remington College-Memphis Campus
Memphis · Private nonprofit
Genesis Career College-Cookeville
Cookeville · Private for-profit
Remington College-Nashville Campus
Nashville · Private nonprofit
Brillare Beauty Institute
Cleveland · Private nonprofit
Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers
Chattanooga · Private for-profit
Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro-Nashville
Powder Springs · Private for-profit
Welch College
Gallatin · Private nonprofit
Paul Mitchell the School-Memphis
Memphis · Private for-profit
Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro · Private for-profit
Herzing University-Nashville
Nashville · Private nonprofit
Academy of Allied Health Careers
Chattanooga · Private for-profit
John A Gupton College
Nashville · Private nonprofit
Empire Beauty School-E Memphis
Memphis · Private for-profit
Gould's Academy
Memphis · Private for-profit
Lawrenceburg Technical College
Lawrenceburg · Private for-profit
Queen City College
Clarksville · Private for-profit
Sandra Academy of Salon Services
New Tazewell · Private for-profit
Franklin Hair Academy School of Cosmetology
Franklin · Private for-profit
Empire Beauty School-Nashville
Brentwood · Private for-profit
Austin's Beauty College Inc
Clarksville · Private for-profit
TC Beauty
Johnson City · Private for-profit
Genesis Career College-Lebanon
Lebanon · Private for-profit
Paul Mitchell the School-Knoxville
Powder Springs · Private for-profit
Ross Medical Education Center-Johnson City
Johnson City · Private for-profit
Hair Academy LLC
Fayetteville · Private for-profit
Ross Medical Education Center-Knoxville
Knoxville · Private for-profit
All private colleges & universities in this state
- Love Beauty School Inc· Manchester
- Image Maker Beauty Institute· Hendersonville
- Empire Beauty School-Jackson· Jackson
- Vibe Barber College· Memphis
- Arnolds Beauty School· Milan
- North Central Institute· Clarksville
- Nashville Film Institute· Nashville
- Elite College of Cosmetology· Lexington
- American Baptist College· Nashville
- Salon Professional Academy-Nashville· Nashville
- Massage Institute of Memphis· Memphis
- Mind Body Institute· Madison
- Allied Health Careers Institute· Murfreesboro
- Master's Barber & Styling College· Old Hickory
- Sweetwater Institute of Cosmetology· Sweetwater
- Mr Wayne's School of Unisex Hair Design· Cookeville
- Studio 75 Hair Academy· Millington
- Health-Tech Institute of Memphis· Memphis
- South College-Nashville· Nashville
- Strayer University-Shelby Oaks Campus· Memphis
- Casa Loma College - Nashville· Nashville
Community & 2-Year Colleges(11)
Strayer University-Tennessee
Memphis · Private for-profit
SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville
Nashville · Private for-profit
Baptist Health Sciences University
Memphis · Private nonprofit
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Memphis · Public
Nossi College of Art and Design
Nashville · Private for-profit
Visible Music College
Memphis · Private nonprofit
Williamson Christian College
Franklin · Private nonprofit
Mid-South Christian College
Memphis · Private nonprofit
Pentecostal Theological Seminary
Cleveland · Private nonprofit
Southern College of Optometry
Memphis · Private nonprofit
Meharry Medical College
Nashville · Private nonprofit
Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Updated regularly via automated sync. Contact schools directly for current requirements and costs.