Colleges with the lowest student debt in Tennessee
Colleges whose graduates leave with the least federal student debt.
Colleges with the lowest student debt in Tennessee10 schools
10 schools qualify, ranked by median debt.
How this list is made
- Schools in Tennessee.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has the median federal loan debt of graduates from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by median debt, lowest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Tennessee
- Median debt $14,000
- 94% graduate
- 2
- 3Tie
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Tennessee
- Median debt $20,500
- 74% graduate
- 3Tie
- 5
- 6
Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson, TN · Private nonprofit#8 in Tennessee
- Median debt $21,500
- 71% graduate
- 7
Rhodes College
Memphis, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Tennessee
- Median debt $21,761
- 85% graduate
- 8
The University of the South
Sewanee, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in Tennessee
- Median debt $22,855
- 80% graduate
- 9
- 10
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% |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | $18,976 | $20,500 | $60,249 | 74% |
| Belmont University | $33,147 | $20,500 | $55,930 | 71% |
| Union University | $27,171 | $20,714 | $53,990 | 66% |
| Freed-Hardeman University | $21,574 | $21,500 | $47,485 | 71% |
| Rhodes College | $28,585 | $21,761 | $66,651 | 85% |
| The University of the South | $27,872 | $22,855 | $64,911 | 80% |
| Milligan University | $21,365 | $25,219 | $46,641 | 63% |
| Lee University | $18,878 | $25,750 | $43,222 | 63% |
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 5
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 61
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 15
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 16
- New York 75
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 21
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15