Best colleges for history in Tennessee
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in history, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for history in Tennessee36 schools
36 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Tennessee.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in history, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- 2
Rhodes College
Memphis, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B
- 3Tie
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 3Tie
The University of the South
Sewanee, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B-
- 5
Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#5 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B
- 6
Union University
Jackson, TN · Private nonprofit#6 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B-
- 7
Belmont University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#7 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade C+
- 8
Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson, TN · Private nonprofit#8 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B-
- 9
Milligan University
Milligan, TN · Private nonprofit#9 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B-
- 10
Lee University
Cleveland, TN · Private nonprofit#10 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B-
- 11
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN · PublicTop 21% for low debt
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B+ · Top 21%
- 12
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN · Public#13 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 13
Welch College
Gallatin, TN · Private nonprofit#14 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade C+
- 14
Bryan College-Dayton
Dayton, TN · Private nonprofit#15 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B · Top 50%
- 15
Fisk University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#16 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade C+
- 16
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN · Public#17 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B · Top 44%
- 17
Christian Brothers University
Memphis, TN · Private nonprofitTop 15% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade A- · Top 19%
- 18Tie
Lincoln Memorial University
Harrogate, TN · Private nonprofit#20 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B · Top 50%
- 18Tie
Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, TN · Private nonprofit#20 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B-
- 18Tie
The University of Tennessee-Martin
Martin, TN · PublicTop 17% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B+ · Top 31%
- 21
Johnson University
Knoxville, TN · Private nonprofit#23 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade C+
- 22Tie
Carson-Newman University
Jefferson City, TN · Private nonprofit#24 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B-
- 22Tie
Trevecca Nazarene University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#24 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- 24
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN · PublicTop 23% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 25
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · PublicGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University | About $16,000 | $14,000 | $91,565 | 94% |
| Rhodes College | About $29,000 | $21,761 | $66,651 | 85% |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | About $19,000 | $20,500 | $60,249 | 74% |
| The University of the South | About $28,000 | $22,855 | $64,911 | 80% |
| Lipscomb University | About $25,000 | $19,500 | $55,541 | 72% |
| Union University | About $27,000 | $20,714 | $53,990 | 66% |
| Belmont University | About $33,000 | $20,500 | $55,930 | 71% |
| Freed-Hardeman University | About $22,000 | $21,500 | $47,485 | 71% |
| Milligan University | About $21,000 | $25,219 | $46,641 | 63% |
| Lee University | About $19,000 | $25,750 | $43,222 | 63% |
| Tennessee Technological University | About $14,000 | $15,650 | $48,501 | 58% |
| Middle Tennessee State University | About $13,000 | $20,000 | $48,541 | 54% |
| Welch College | About $25,000 | $19,500 | $42,198 | 53% |
| Bryan College-Dayton | About $21,000 | $23,000 | $54,434 | 50% |
| Fisk University | About $32,000 | $27,000 | $45,454 | 30% |
| East Tennessee State University | About $16,000 | $19,442 | $44,859 | 53% |
| Christian Brothers University | About $10,000 | $27,000 | $57,478 | 55% |
| Lincoln Memorial University | About $20,000 | $20,000 | $49,956 | 50% |
| Southern Adventist University | About $24,000 | $24,500 | $53,723 | 49% |
| The University of Tennessee-Martin | About $11,000 | $21,024 | $44,213 | 53% |
| Johnson University | About $22,000 | $21,500 | $40,596 | 57% |
| Carson-Newman University | About $20,000 | $21,500 | $48,382 | 53% |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | About $17,000 | $18,744 | $49,378 | 53% |
| University of Memphis | About $12,000 | $23,300 | $48,458 | 51% |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | About $14,000 | $19,500 | $51,151 | 50% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 22
- Arizona 7
- Arkansas 17
- California 68
- Colorado 15
- Connecticut 20
- District of Columbia 7
- Florida 30
- Georgia 43
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 7
- Illinois 45
- Indiana 35
- Iowa 25
- Kansas 22
- Kentucky 23
- Louisiana 20
- Maine 9
- Maryland 23
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 31
- Minnesota 28
- Mississippi 14
- Missouri 37
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 15
- Nevada 3
- New Hampshire 11
- New Jersey 25
- New Mexico 6
- New York 82
- North Carolina 45
- North Dakota 7
- Ohio 61
- Oklahoma 20
- Oregon 16
- Pennsylvania 80
- Puerto Rico 7
- Rhode Island 7
- South Carolina 28
- South Dakota 8
- Texas 67
- Utah 8
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 40
- Washington 17
- West Virginia 13
- Wisconsin 27