Best colleges in Tennessee
Every accredited four-year college ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.
Best colleges in Tennessee43 schools
43 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.
- 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
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- 94% graduate
- 2
- 3Tie
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Tennessee
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 74% graduate
- 3Tie
The University of the South
Sewanee, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in Tennessee
- Value grade B-
- 80% graduate
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN · PublicTop 21% for low debt
- Value grade B+ · Top 21%
- 58% graduate
- 12
- 13
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN · Public#13 in Tennessee
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 54% graduate
- 14
- 15
Bryan College-Dayton
Dayton, TN · Private nonprofit#15 in Tennessee
- Value grade B · Top 50%
- 50% graduate
- 16
- 17
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN · Public#17 in Tennessee
- Value grade B · Top 44%
- 53% graduate
- 18
Christian Brothers University
Memphis, TN · Private nonprofitTop 15% for low net price
- Value grade A- · Top 19%
- 55% graduate
- 19
Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · Private for-profitTop 22% for low debt
- Value grade C+
- 60% graduate
- 20Tie
Lincoln Memorial University
Harrogate, TN · Private nonprofit#20 in Tennessee
- Value grade B · Top 50%
- 50% graduate
- 20Tie
Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, TN · Private nonprofit#20 in Tennessee
- Value grade B-
- 49% graduate
- 20Tie
The University of Tennessee-Martin
Martin, TN · PublicTop 17% for low net price
- Value grade B+ · Top 31%
- 53% graduate
- 23
- 24Tie
Carson-Newman University
Jefferson City, TN · Private nonprofit#24 in Tennessee
- Value grade B-
- 53% graduate
- 24Tie
Trevecca Nazarene University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#24 in Tennessee
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- 53% graduate
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% |
| Visible Music College | $27,820 | $9,500 | $35,933 | 23% |
| 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% |
| Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga | $23,958 | $15,917 | $31,102 | 60% |
| 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% |
| Johnson University | $22,063 | $21,500 | $40,596 | 57% |
| Carson-Newman University | $20,251 | $21,500 | $48,382 | 53% |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | $16,813 | $18,744 | $49,378 | 53% |
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 26
- Alaska 5
- Arizona 16
- Arkansas 23
- California 128
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 26
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 9
- Florida 61
- Georgia 60
- Hawaii 6
- Idaho 9
- Illinois 57
- Indiana 45
- Iowa 30
- Kansas 27
- Kentucky 29
- Louisiana 24
- Maine 19
- Maryland 26
- Massachusetts 67
- Michigan 44
- Minnesota 40
- Mississippi 16
- Missouri 53
- Montana 10
- Nebraska 19
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 13
- New Jersey 36
- New Mexico 11
- New York 135
- North Carolina 55
- North Dakota 9
- Ohio 99
- Oklahoma 23
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 118
- Puerto Rico 52
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 35
- South Dakota 11
- Texas 85
- Utah 16
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 51
- Washington 24
- West Virginia 19
- Wisconsin 36
- Wyoming 3