Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Tennessee
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in biology, the usual route for pre-medical study, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for biology and pre-med 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 biology, 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 biology
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- 2
Rhodes College
Memphis, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B
- 3Tie
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 3Tie
The University of the South
Sewanee, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B-
- 5
Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#5 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B
- 6
Union University
Jackson, TN · Private nonprofit#6 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B-
- 7
Belmont University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#7 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade C+
- 8
Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson, TN · Private nonprofit#8 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B-
- 9
Milligan University
Milligan, TN · Private nonprofit#9 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B-
- 10
Lee University
Cleveland, TN · Private nonprofit#10 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B-
- 11
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN · PublicTop 21% for low debt
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 21%
- 12
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN · Public#13 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 13
Welch College
Gallatin, TN · Private nonprofit#14 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade C+
- 14
Bryan College-Dayton
Dayton, TN · Private nonprofit#15 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B · Top 50%
- 15
Fisk University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#16 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade C+
- 16
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN · Public#17 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B · Top 44%
- 17
Christian Brothers University
Memphis, TN · Private nonprofitTop 15% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade A- · Top 19%
- 18Tie
Lincoln Memorial University
Harrogate, TN · Private nonprofit#20 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B · Top 50%
- 18Tie
Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, TN · Private nonprofit#20 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B-
- 18Tie
The University of Tennessee-Martin
Martin, TN · PublicTop 17% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 31%
- 21Tie
Carson-Newman University
Jefferson City, TN · Private nonprofit#24 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B-
- 21Tie
Trevecca Nazarene University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#24 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- 23
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN · PublicTop 23% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 24
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · PublicGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
- 25
Tennessee Wesleyan University
Athens, TN · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B · Top 39%
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University | $15,846 | $14,000 | $91,565 | 94% |
| Rhodes College | $28,585 | $21,761 | $66,651 | 85% |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | $18,976 | $20,500 | $60,249 | 74% |
| The University of the South | $27,872 | $22,855 | $64,911 | 80% |
| Lipscomb University | $24,739 | $19,500 | $55,541 | 72% |
| Union University | $27,171 | $20,714 | $53,990 | 66% |
| Belmont University | $33,147 | $20,500 | $55,930 | 71% |
| Freed-Hardeman University | $21,574 | $21,500 | $47,485 | 71% |
| Milligan University | $21,365 | $25,219 | $46,641 | 63% |
| Lee University | $18,878 | $25,750 | $43,222 | 63% |
| Tennessee Technological University | $14,246 | $15,650 | $48,501 | 58% |
| Middle Tennessee State University | $13,359 | $20,000 | $48,541 | 54% |
| Welch College | $25,263 | $19,500 | $42,198 | 53% |
| Bryan College-Dayton | $20,614 | $23,000 | $54,434 | 50% |
| Fisk University | $32,020 | $27,000 | $45,454 | 30% |
| East Tennessee State University | $15,983 | $19,442 | $44,859 | 53% |
| Christian Brothers University | $9,854 | $27,000 | $57,478 | 55% |
| Lincoln Memorial University | $20,406 | $20,000 | $49,956 | 50% |
| Southern Adventist University | $24,345 | $24,500 | $53,723 | 49% |
| The University of Tennessee-Martin | $10,701 | $21,024 | $44,213 | 53% |
| Carson-Newman University | $20,251 | $21,500 | $48,382 | 53% |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | $16,813 | $18,744 | $49,378 | 53% |
| University of Memphis | $12,397 | $23,300 | $48,458 | 51% |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | $14,265 | $19,500 | $51,151 | 50% |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | $14,836 | $20,000 | $45,989 | 48% |
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 23
- Alaska 3
- Arizona 9
- Arkansas 19
- California 69
- Colorado 15
- Connecticut 21
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 8
- Florida 35
- Georgia 49
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 7
- Illinois 48
- Indiana 40
- Iowa 26
- Kansas 23
- Kentucky 25
- Louisiana 22
- Maine 13
- Maryland 20
- Massachusetts 47
- Michigan 33
- Minnesota 30
- Mississippi 15
- Missouri 40
- Montana 9
- Nebraska 17
- Nevada 4
- New Hampshire 11
- New Jersey 25
- New Mexico 8
- New York 88
- North Carolina 50
- North Dakota 8
- Ohio 60
- Oklahoma 21
- Oregon 18
- Pennsylvania 98
- Puerto Rico 25
- Rhode Island 8
- South Carolina 31
- South Dakota 9
- Texas 68
- Utah 7
- Vermont 7
- Virginia 38
- Washington 18
- West Virginia 15
- Wisconsin 28