Colleges that spend the most on teaching in Tennessee
Colleges ranked by instructional spending for each full-time-equivalent student.
Colleges that spend the most on teaching in Tennessee10 schools
10 schools qualify, ranked by teaching spending per student.
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 instructional spending per full-time-equivalent student from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by instructional spending per student, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Tennessee
- $34,184 on teaching per student
- 8 students per faculty member
- 2
The University of the South
Sewanee, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in Tennessee
- $22,548 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 3
Rhodes College
Memphis, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Tennessee
- $16,723 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 4
Union University
Jackson, TN · Private nonprofit#6 in Tennessee
- $14,464 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 5
Belmont University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#7 in Tennessee
- $13,651 on teaching per student
- 12 students per faculty member
- 6
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Tennessee
- $13,098 on teaching per student
- 18 students per faculty member
- 7
Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#5 in Tennessee
- $12,062 on teaching per student
- 13 students per faculty member
- 8
Milligan University
Milligan, TN · Private nonprofit#9 in Tennessee
- $9,458 on teaching per student
- 10 students per faculty member
- 9
Lee University
Cleveland, TN · Private nonprofit#10 in Tennessee
- $8,868 on teaching per student
- 13 students per faculty member
- 10
Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson, TN · Private nonprofit#8 in Tennessee
- $8,648 on teaching per student
- 10 students per faculty member
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% |
| The University of the South | $27,872 | $22,855 | $64,911 | 80% |
| Rhodes College | $28,585 | $21,761 | $66,651 | 85% |
| Union University | $27,171 | $20,714 | $53,990 | 66% |
| Belmont University | $33,147 | $20,500 | $55,930 | 71% |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | $18,976 | $20,500 | $60,249 | 74% |
| Lipscomb University | $24,739 | $19,500 | $55,541 | 72% |
| Milligan University | $21,365 | $25,219 | $46,641 | 63% |
| Lee University | $18,878 | $25,750 | $43,222 | 63% |
| Freed-Hardeman University | $21,574 | $21,500 | $47,485 | 71% |
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 64
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 14
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 47
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 20
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 80
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 62
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 22
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15