Best colleges for art and design in Tennessee
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in art or design, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for art and design in Tennessee27 schools
27 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 art or design, 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 art or design
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- 2
Rhodes College
Memphis, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B
- 3Tie
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 3Tie
The University of the South
Sewanee, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 5
Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#5 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B
- 6
Union University
Jackson, TN · Private nonprofit#6 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 7
Belmont University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#7 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade C+
- 8
Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson, TN · Private nonprofit#8 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 9
Milligan University
Milligan, TN · Private nonprofit#9 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 10
Lee University
Cleveland, TN · Private nonprofit#10 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 11
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN · PublicTop 21% for low debt
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 21%
- 12
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN · Public#13 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 13
Fisk University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#16 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade C+
- 14
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN · Public#17 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 44%
- 15
Christian Brothers University
Memphis, TN · Private nonprofitTop 15% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade A- · Top 19%
- 16Tie
Lincoln Memorial University
Harrogate, TN · Private nonprofit#20 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 50%
- 16Tie
Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, TN · Private nonprofit#20 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 18
Carson-Newman University
Jefferson City, TN · Private nonprofit#24 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 19
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN · PublicTop 23% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 20
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · PublicGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
- 21
Maryville College
Maryville, TN · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 22
Nossi College of Art and Design
Nashville, TN · Private for-profitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade C+
- 23
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN · PublicTop 14% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- 24
Cumberland University
Lebanon, TN · Private nonprofit#34 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 24%
- 25
Bethel University
McKenzie, TN · Private nonprofitTop 24% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 46%
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% |
| 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% |
| Carson-Newman University | About $20,000 | $21,500 | $48,382 | 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% |
| Maryville College | About $19,000 | $25,375 | $49,279 | 50% |
| Nossi College of Art and Design | About $24,000 | $33,498 | $35,113 | 42% |
| Austin Peay State University | About $10,000 | $20,547 | $44,301 | 40% |
| Cumberland University | About $19,000 | $17,952 | $57,687 | 46% |
| Bethel University | About $13,000 | $27,249 | $47,482 | 35% |
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 19
- Alaska 3
- Arizona 8
- Arkansas 17
- California 75
- Colorado 15
- Connecticut 21
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 7
- Florida 29
- Georgia 32
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 47
- Indiana 36
- Iowa 24
- Kansas 21
- Kentucky 22
- Louisiana 16
- Maine 13
- Maryland 20
- Massachusetts 44
- Michigan 30
- Minnesota 30
- Mississippi 7
- Missouri 32
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 15
- Nevada 4
- New Hampshire 8
- New Jersey 26
- New Mexico 6
- New York 85
- North Carolina 39
- North Dakota 5
- Ohio 59
- Oklahoma 15
- Oregon 14
- Pennsylvania 74
- Puerto Rico 17
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 25
- South Dakota 9
- Texas 54
- Utah 8
- Vermont 8
- Virginia 33
- Washington 16
- West Virginia 11
- Wisconsin 29