Best test-optional colleges in Tennessee
Colleges that don't require the SAT or ACT for admission, ranked by Compass Score.
Best test-optional colleges in Tennessee28 schools
28 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.
- Admission test policy: considered but not required, or neither required nor recommended (federal admissions data).
- 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
- SAT or ACT not required
- 94% graduate
- 2
Rhodes College
Memphis, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Tennessee
- SAT or ACT not required
- 85% graduate
- 3
The University of the South
Sewanee, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in Tennessee
- SAT or ACT not required
- 80% graduate
- 4
Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#5 in Tennessee
- SAT or ACT not required
- 72% graduate
- 5
- 6
Belmont University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#7 in Tennessee
- SAT or ACT not required
- 71% graduate
- 7
Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson, TN · Private nonprofit#8 in Tennessee
- SAT or ACT not required
- 71% graduate
- 8
Milligan University
Milligan, TN · Private nonprofit#9 in Tennessee
- SAT or ACT not required
- 63% graduate
- 9
- 10
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN · PublicTop 21% for low debt
- SAT or ACT not required
- 58% graduate
- 11
Visible Music College
Memphis, TN · Private nonprofitTop 6% for low debt
- SAT or ACT not required
- 23% graduate
- 12
- 13
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN · Public#17 in Tennessee
- SAT or ACT not required
- 53% graduate
- 14
Christian Brothers University
Memphis, TN · Private nonprofitTop 15% for low net price
- SAT or ACT not required
- 55% graduate
- 15Tie
Lincoln Memorial University
Harrogate, TN · Private nonprofit#20 in Tennessee
- SAT or ACT not required
- 50% graduate
- 15Tie
Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, TN · Private nonprofit#20 in Tennessee
- SAT or ACT not required
- 49% graduate
- 17
Johnson University
Knoxville, TN · Private nonprofit#23 in Tennessee
- SAT or ACT not required
- 57% graduate
- 18Tie
Carson-Newman University
Jefferson City, TN · Private nonprofit#24 in Tennessee
- SAT or ACT not required
- 53% graduate
- 18Tie
Trevecca Nazarene University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#24 in Tennessee
- SAT or ACT not required
- 53% graduate
- 20
Tennessee Wesleyan University
Athens, TN · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 48% graduate
- 21
Maryville College
Maryville, TN · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 50% graduate
- 22
Nossi College of Art and Design
Nashville, TN · Private for-profitGood: Compass grade B-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 42% graduate
- 23
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN · PublicTop 14% for low net price
- SAT or ACT not required
- 40% graduate
- 24
Cumberland University
Lebanon, TN · Private nonprofit#34 in Tennessee
- SAT or ACT not required
- 46% graduate
- 25
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 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | $14,836 | $20,000 | $45,989 | 48% |
| Maryville College | $19,360 | $25,375 | $49,279 | 50% |
| Nossi College of Art and Design | $24,044 | $33,498 | $35,113 | 42% |
| Austin Peay State University | $9,735 | $20,547 | $44,301 | 40% |
| Cumberland University | $18,759 | $17,952 | $57,687 | 46% |
| King University | $22,347 | $22,750 | $59,831 | 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
- Arizona 12
- Arkansas 10
- California 100
- Colorado 16
- Connecticut 18
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 35
- Georgia 42
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 56
- Indiana 40
- Iowa 29
- Kansas 24
- Kentucky 25
- Louisiana 21
- Maine 15
- Maryland 25
- Massachusetts 59
- Michigan 40
- Minnesota 35
- Mississippi 10
- Missouri 42
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 14
- Nevada 5
- New Hampshire 11
- New Jersey 33
- New Mexico 5
- New York 125
- North Carolina 54
- North Dakota 7
- Ohio 68
- Oklahoma 14
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 113
- Puerto Rico 32
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 30
- South Dakota 10
- Texas 65
- Utah 8
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 43
- Washington 20
- West Virginia 13
- Wisconsin 34