Best mid-size colleges in Tennessee
Colleges with 2,000 to 10,000 undergraduates, ranked by Compass Score.
Best mid-size colleges in Tennessee15 schools
15 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Tennessee.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- 2,000 to 10,000 undergraduate students (federal enrollment).
- 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
- 7,152 undergraduates
- 94% graduate
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN · PublicTop 21% for low debt
- 8,838 undergraduates
- 58% graduate
- 6
Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · Private for-profitTop 22% for low debt
- 3,667 undergraduates
- 60% graduate
- 7Tie
Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, TN · Private nonprofit#20 in Tennessee
- 2,827 undergraduates
- 49% graduate
- 7Tie
The University of Tennessee-Martin
Martin, TN · PublicTop 17% for low net price
- 6,234 undergraduates
- 53% graduate
- 9
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · PublicGood: Compass grade B-
- 9,982 undergraduates
- 50% graduate
- 10
Strayer University-Tennessee
Memphis, TN · Private for-profitTop 20% for low net price
- 2,670 undergraduates
- 0% graduate
- 11
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN · PublicTop 14% for low net price
- 8,587 undergraduates
- 40% graduate
- 12
Cumberland University
Lebanon, TN · Private nonprofit#34 in Tennessee
- 2,652 undergraduates
- 46% graduate
- 13
- 14
Bethel University
McKenzie, TN · Private nonprofitTop 24% for low net price
- 2,719 undergraduates
- 35% graduate
- 15
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% |
| Lipscomb University | $24,739 | $19,500 | $55,541 | 72% |
| Belmont University | $33,147 | $20,500 | $55,930 | 71% |
| Lee University | $18,878 | $25,750 | $43,222 | 63% |
| Tennessee Technological University | $14,246 | $15,650 | $48,501 | 58% |
| Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga | $23,958 | $15,917 | $31,102 | 60% |
| Southern Adventist University | $24,345 | $24,500 | $53,723 | 49% |
| The University of Tennessee-Martin | $10,701 | $21,024 | $44,213 | 53% |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | $14,265 | $19,500 | $51,151 | 50% |
| Strayer University-Tennessee | $11,645 | $40,621 | $40,092 | 0% |
| Austin Peay State University | $9,735 | $20,547 | $44,301 | 40% |
| Cumberland University | $18,759 | $17,952 | $57,687 | 46% |
| South College | $17,858 | $18,668 | $36,642 | 42% |
| Bethel University | $12,595 | $27,249 | $47,482 | 35% |
| Tennessee State University | $15,796 | $27,000 | $42,730 | 34% |
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 11
- Arkansas 9
- California 36
- Colorado 15
- Connecticut 14
- District of Columbia 4
- Florida 21
- Georgia 28
- Hawaii 4
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 24
- Indiana 19
- Iowa 5
- Kansas 5
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 12
- Maine 8
- Maryland 9
- Massachusetts 30
- Michigan 13
- Minnesota 18
- Mississippi 5
- Missouri 16
- Nebraska 4
- New Hampshire 4
- New Jersey 14
- New York 61
- North Carolina 12
- North Dakota 4
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 9
- Oregon 7
- Pennsylvania 43
- Puerto Rico 20
- Rhode Island 8
- South Carolina 12
- South Dakota 5
- Texas 35
- Vermont 4
- Virginia 13
- Washington 9
- West Virginia 5
- Wisconsin 18
- Wyoming 3