Best Colleges in Tennessee (2023 Rankings)

Bill Townsend
9/22/2023 | 5 Min Read

tennessee

Best Colleges in Tennessee (2023 Rankings)

Table of Contents

Tennessee is home to many top colleges, from large public schools to prestigious private universities. Whether you're a high school senior looking for a great four-year college or are interested in earning your graduate or doctoral degrees, you've come to the right place.

Check out our rankings for Tennessee's top colleges (in no particular order), complete with a breakdown of what each has to offer! We'll even point you in the direction of plenty of great runner-up schools that are also worth checking out.

Vanderbilt University, Nashville

Tuition: $54,158

Fast facts:

7,057 undergraduate students
12% acceptance rate
88% graduation rate

Vanderbilt University is not just one of the top-ranking private research universities in Tennessee, but also in the entire country. With a 12% acceptance rate and a 34 average ACT midpoint, Vanderbilt isn't exactly the easiest school to get into.

But if you manage to score a spot, then you'll enjoy perks like a high student-to-faculty ratio, a gorgeous campus, and a choice of over 70 undergraduate majors. Vanderbilt also boasts one of the largest selections of doctoral and master's degree programs in the state.

Get to know your fellow students when you join one of over 475 student interest organizations at one of the school's six identity centers. The fact that Vanderbilt University is located right in the heart of one of the country's best music scenes definitely doesn't hurt either!

You might also like: King University, Bristol

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

In-State Tuition: $13,264

Out-of-State Tuition: $31,664

Fast facts:

24,254 undergraduate students
78% acceptance rate
51% (4-year) and 71% (6-year) graduation rates

Located on a beautiful 910-acre Knoxville campus, the University of Tennessee (UT) is the state's largest public research university. If you follow college athletics, then we probably don't have to tell you about the epic rivalry between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the UT Volunteers.

While the Volunteers may not have the most imposing name ever, the team's long list of legendary alumni includes Peyton Manning, Reggie White, and Doug Atkins. But rest assured that UT's academics are also on point, with over 360 different undergrad programs to choose from.

You might also like: East Tennessee State University, Johnson City

Rhodes College, Memphis

Tuition: $50,910

Fast facts:

1,840 undergraduate students
51% acceptance rate
79% graduation rate

Rhodes College is a private liberal arts college that sprawls across a stately Gothic campus in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee. With a tight-knit student body of less than 2,000, Rhodes offers an impressive 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Rhodes offers over 70 different areas of study to choose from, including popular bachelor's degree programs like Neuroscience, Business, and Biology. You can also design your own major or choose from one of several available dual-degree programs.

You might also like: Tennessee Wesleyan University, Athens

Belmont University, Nashville

Tuition: $37,030

Fast facts:

6,631 undergraduate students
83% acceptance rate
60% (4-year), 71% (6-year) graduation rate

Belmont University is a mid-sized private Christian college in Nashville and a particularly popular choice for visual and performing arts majors. Variety recently ranked Belmont's film school as one of the best in the nation!

But even if you aren't looking to hone your inner artist, you'll find over 180 undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees to choose from. With over 180 student organizations and 9 Greek chapters, Belmont University is a great place to make lifelong friends during your higher education journey.

You might also like: Newman University, Nashville

Union University, Jackson

Tuition: $34,630

Fast facts:

2,096 undergraduate students
58% acceptance rate
57% (4-year), 66% (6-year) graduation rates

Union University is a private Southern Baptist college in Jackson, TN with extension campuses in Hendersonville and Memphis. While many private schools are affiliated with certain faiths, Union strongly emphasizes Christ-based teachings in its education methodology, so students who share those beliefs will feel right at home there.

Union offers over 100 programs of study to choose from, including niche majors like Worship Music Leadership and Biblical Languages. The University also has a thriving Greek scene and plenty of fun student clubs.

You might also like: Freed-Hardeman University, Henderson

Lipscomb University, Nashville

Tuition: $34,744

Fast facts:

2,997 undergraduate students
62% acceptance rate
59% graduation rate

Lipscomb University is another great private school in the heart of Nashville. While it offers over 176 undergraduate and 60+ graduate fields of study, Lipscomb's Business, Education, and Health Care programs are all particularly high-ranking.

As a small Christian liberal arts college, Lipscomb encourages campus-wide worship and theological discussion. You'll also find over 60 clubs and organizations themed around everything from athletics to personal interests.

You might also like: Christian Brothers University, Memphis

University of Memphis

In-state Tuition: $9,912

Out-of-state Tuition: $13,752

Fast facts:

17,383 undergraduate students
85% acceptance rate
28% (4-year), 52% (6-year) graduation rate

The University of Memphis (U of M) is a large public university that's home to the NCAA Division I Memphis Tigers basketball teams. With 19 different sports and 400 student-athletes, U of M is a great place for both players and fans.

Choose from over 220 different fields of study, get involved with one of over 35 Greek chapters, and explore over 130 special interest clubs ranging from the Anime Association to the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu club. The University of Memphis offers a great on-campus experience just a few miles away from Beale Street.

You might also like: Johnson University, Knoxville

Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville

In-state Tuition: $9,636

Out-of-state Tuition: $19,668

Fast facts:

8,778 undergraduate students
80% acceptance rate
35% (4-year), 57% (6-year) graduation rate

If you're looking for a school with great academic programs and a competitive tuition rate, then check out Tennessee Technological University. While the mid-size public college is known for its cutting-edge IT, Science, and Engineering programs, it offers over 200 academic programs.

Tennessee Tech also boasts an impressive range of master's and doctorate programs, especially in Engineering and Environmental Sciences. Cheer on the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles or join one of the over 200 student organizations you'll find on campus.

You might also like: Trevecca Nazarene University, Nashville

University of the South, Sewanee

Tuition: $47,980

Fast facts:

1,716 undergraduate students
56% acceptance rate
76% graduation rate

If you're a nature lover, then the University of the South (Sewanee) is worth a look. The private Episcopal college is set on a stunning 13,000-acre campus that's affectionately known as "the Domain."

With a small, tight-knit student body, Sewanee offers a solid liberal arts education in over 35 different majors. Choose from pre-professional programs like Law and Medicine or earn a bachelor's degree in anything from Forestry to Finance.

You might also like: Maryville College, Maryville

Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro

In-state Tuition: $9,070

Out-of-state Tuition: $27,742

Fast facts:

19,188 undergraduate students
94% acceptance rate
30% (4-year) and 51% (6-year) graduation rates

Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) is a large public college that offers over 300 majors. With incredibly competitive in-state tuition rates and solid financial aid options, nearly half of their students graduate debt free.

MTSU also offers online degrees and enrollment in adult degree completion programs that are excellent options for non-traditional students. If you do decide to opt for the on-campus experience, then you'll enjoy access to Greek life, student organizations, and the fun of cheering on the Blue Raiders sports teams.

You might also like: University Of Tennessee At Martin, Martin

Tennessee colleges FAQ

What's the number one best college in Tennessee?

While Vanderbilt and the University of Tennessee are largely considered the best colleges in the state, finding the best school for you depends on everything from what you want to study to your personal interests.

What is the hardest college to get into in Tennessee?

With a 12% acceptance rate, Vanderbilt is definitely the hardest college in Tennessee to get into!

What are the best community colleges in Tennessee?

If you're looking to earn an associate degree, our top picks are:

Which Tennessee college has the best graduate programs?

Vanderbilt has an excellent selection of graduate programs, including an impressive number of doctoral programs.

Find the perfect Tennessee school with College Rover

While college rankings can be a great way to narrow down your list of prospective schools, the most important thing is to find the right school for your goals. That's why College Rover offers a user-friendly research platform that can help you filter schools by size, major, interests, and more. Hop onto our search tool to find the best schools for you or compare your top choices side by side.

College Rover gets the majority of its data directly from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). The DOE publishing schedule "lags" the most current data which some colleges post on their official websites. This may cause there to be a difference in the data you see on College Rover and an individual college website. College Rover's website is updated as the DOE data becomes available and is configured for the College Rover website.