Best colleges for social work in Tennessee
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in social work, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for social work in Tennessee19 schools
19 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Tennessee.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in social work, 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
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in social work
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 2
Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#5 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in social work
- Value grade B
- 3
Union University
Jackson, TN · Private nonprofit#6 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in social work
- Value grade B-
- 4
Belmont University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#7 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in social work
- Value grade C+
- 5
Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson, TN · Private nonprofit#8 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in social work
- Value grade B-
- 6
Milligan University
Milligan, TN · Private nonprofit#9 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in social work
- Value grade B-
- 7
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN · Public#13 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in social work
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 8
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN · Public#17 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in social work
- Value grade B · Top 44%
- 9Tie
Lincoln Memorial University
Harrogate, TN · Private nonprofit#20 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in social work
- Value grade B · Top 50%
- 9Tie
Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, TN · Private nonprofit#20 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in social work
- Value grade B-
- 9Tie
The University of Tennessee-Martin
Martin, TN · PublicTop 17% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in social work
- Value grade B+ · Top 31%
- 12
Trevecca Nazarene University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#24 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in social work
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- 13
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN · PublicTop 23% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in social work
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 14
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · PublicGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in social work
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
- 15
Tennessee Wesleyan University
Athens, TN · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in social work
- Value grade B · Top 39%
- 16
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN · PublicTop 14% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in social work
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- 17
King University
Bristol, TN · Private nonprofit#35 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in social work
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 18
Tennessee State University
Nashville, TN · Public#40 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in social work
- Value grade B-
- 19
Le Moyne-Owen College
Memphis, TN · Private nonprofitTop 8% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in social work
- Value grade B-
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | About $19,000 | $20,500 | $60,249 | 74% |
| 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% |
| Middle Tennessee State University | About $13,000 | $20,000 | $48,541 | 54% |
| East Tennessee State University | About $16,000 | $19,442 | $44,859 | 53% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | About $15,000 | $20,000 | $45,989 | 48% |
| Austin Peay State University | About $10,000 | $20,547 | $44,301 | 40% |
| King University | About $22,000 | $22,750 | $59,831 | 48% |
| Tennessee State University | About $16,000 | $27,000 | $42,730 | 34% |
| Le Moyne-Owen College | About $7,000 | $28,070 | $35,594 | 27% |
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 16
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 10
- California 26
- Colorado 5
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 3
- Florida 14
- Georgia 12
- Hawaii 3
- Idaho 5
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 14
- Kansas 10
- Kentucky 14
- Louisiana 9
- Maine 5
- Maryland 10
- Massachusetts 12
- Michigan 22
- Minnesota 16
- Mississippi 11
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 6
- New Hampshire 4
- New Jersey 13
- New York 29
- North Carolina 24
- North Dakota 3
- Ohio 42
- Oklahoma 6
- Oregon 5
- Pennsylvania 34
- Puerto Rico 17
- Rhode Island 3
- South Carolina 6
- Texas 34
- Utah 4
- Vermont 3
- Virginia 15
- Washington 8
- West Virginia 7
- Wisconsin 16