Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Tennessee
Colleges ranked by six-year graduation rate, from federal data.
Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Tennessee43 schools
43 schools qualify, ranked by graduation rate. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Tennessee.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Has a graduation rate from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by graduation rate, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Tennessee
- 94% graduate
- 7,152 undergraduates
- 2
Rhodes College
Memphis, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Tennessee
- 85% graduate
- 1,936 undergraduates
- 3
The University of the South
Sewanee, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in Tennessee
- 80% graduate
- 1,615 undergraduates
- 4
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Tennessee
- 74% graduate
- 28,883 undergraduates
- 5
- 6
Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson, TN · Private nonprofit#8 in Tennessee
- 71% graduate
- 1,878 undergraduates
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · Private for-profitTop 22% for low debt
- 60% graduate
- 3,667 undergraduates
- 12
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN · PublicTop 21% for low debt
- 58% graduate
- 8,838 undergraduates
- 13
- 14
Christian Brothers University
Memphis, TN · Private nonprofitTop 15% for low net price
- 55% graduate
- 1,204 undergraduates
- 15
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN · Public#13 in Tennessee
- 54% graduate
- 17,668 undergraduates
- 16
- 17
Carson-Newman University
Jefferson City, TN · Private nonprofit#24 in Tennessee
- 53% graduate
- 1,669 undergraduates
- 18
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN · Public#17 in Tennessee
- 53% graduate
- 10,633 undergraduates
- 19
Trevecca Nazarene University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#24 in Tennessee
- 53% graduate
- 1,825 undergraduates
- 20
The University of Tennessee-Martin
Martin, TN · PublicTop 17% for low net price
- 53% graduate
- 6,234 undergraduates
- 21
- 22
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · PublicGood: Compass grade B-
- 50% graduate
- 9,982 undergraduates
- 23
Maryville College
Maryville, TN · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- 50% graduate
- 1,142 undergraduates
- 24
- 25
Lincoln Memorial University
Harrogate, TN · Private nonprofit#20 in Tennessee
- 50% graduate
- 1,605 undergraduates
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% |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | $18,976 | $20,500 | $60,249 | 74% |
| Lipscomb University | $24,739 | $19,500 | $55,541 | 72% |
| Freed-Hardeman University | $21,574 | $21,500 | $47,485 | 71% |
| Belmont University | $33,147 | $20,500 | $55,930 | 71% |
| Union University | $27,171 | $20,714 | $53,990 | 66% |
| Milligan University | $21,365 | $25,219 | $46,641 | 63% |
| Lee University | $18,878 | $25,750 | $43,222 | 63% |
| Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga | $23,958 | $15,917 | $31,102 | 60% |
| Tennessee Technological University | $14,246 | $15,650 | $48,501 | 58% |
| Johnson University | $22,063 | $21,500 | $40,596 | 57% |
| Christian Brothers University | $9,854 | $27,000 | $57,478 | 55% |
| Middle Tennessee State University | $13,359 | $20,000 | $48,541 | 54% |
| Welch College | $25,263 | $19,500 | $42,198 | 53% |
| Carson-Newman University | $20,251 | $21,500 | $48,382 | 53% |
| East Tennessee State University | $15,983 | $19,442 | $44,859 | 53% |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | $16,813 | $18,744 | $49,378 | 53% |
| The University of Tennessee-Martin | $10,701 | $21,024 | $44,213 | 53% |
| University of Memphis | $12,397 | $23,300 | $48,458 | 51% |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | $14,265 | $19,500 | $51,151 | 50% |
| Maryville College | $19,360 | $25,375 | $49,279 | 50% |
| Bryan College-Dayton | $20,614 | $23,000 | $54,434 | 50% |
| Lincoln Memorial University | $20,406 | $20,000 | $49,956 | 50% |
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