Most selective colleges in Tennessee
Colleges that admit the smallest share of applicants.
Most selective colleges in Tennessee10 schools
10 schools qualify, ranked by admission rate.
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 an admission rate from federal data (College Scorecard). Average SAT scores are shown where the college reports them.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by admission rate, lowest first. Selectivity measures demand for places, not the quality of teaching.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Tennessee
- Admits 6%
- Average SAT 1549
- 2
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Tennessee
- Admits 42%
- Average SAT 1311
- 3
- 4
The University of the South
Sewanee, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in Tennessee
- Admits 57%
- Average SAT 1344
- 5
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- 7
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- 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% |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | $18,976 | $20,500 | $60,249 | 74% |
| Rhodes College | $28,585 | $21,761 | $66,651 | 85% |
| The University of the South | $27,872 | $22,855 | $64,911 | 80% |
| Freed-Hardeman University | $21,574 | $21,500 | $47,485 | 71% |
| Union University | $27,171 | $20,714 | $53,990 | 66% |
| Lipscomb University | $24,739 | $19,500 | $55,541 | 72% |
| Lee University | $18,878 | $25,750 | $43,222 | 63% |
| Milligan University | $21,365 | $25,219 | $46,641 | 63% |
| Belmont University | $33,147 | $20,500 | $55,930 | 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 57
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 20
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 79
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 22
- Washington 12
- Wisconsin 15