Tennessee
Colleges in Tennessee
Tennessee has 50 accredited four-year colleges on College Compass Guide, each rated on academics and value from federal data; 9 are Compass Recommended.
Map of colleges in Tennessee
Hover or tap a dot to see the school and its score.
Compass ScoreNot yet ratedMap: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries; roads and places © OpenStreetMap contributors via OpenFreeMap.
Highest-rated colleges in Tennessee
#1 in Tennessee
Vanderbilt University
Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 1%Nashville, TN · Value A+ · Academics A+
#3 in Tennessee
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 11%Knoxville, TN · Value B+ · Academics A-
Top lists in Tennessee
- 43 schoolsBest colleges
- 31 schoolsBest colleges for nursing
- 25 schoolsBest colleges for engineering
- 38 schoolsBest colleges for business
- 36 schoolsBest colleges for education
- 36 schoolsBest colleges for biology and pre-med
- 34 schoolsBest colleges for psychology
- 25 schoolsBest colleges for computer science
Show all 46 lists
- 29 schoolsBest colleges for communications and journalism
- 30 schoolsBest colleges for accounting
- 22 schoolsBest colleges for finance
- 24 schoolsBest colleges for marketing
- 29 schoolsBest colleges for criminal justice
- 28 schoolsBest colleges for political science and pre-law
- 16 schoolsBest colleges for economics
- 36 schoolsBest colleges for history
- 36 schoolsBest colleges for English
- 34 schoolsBest colleges for mathematics
- 34 schoolsBest colleges for chemistry
- 35 schoolsBest colleges for music
- 27 schoolsBest colleges for art and design
- 30 schoolsBest colleges for exercise science and kinesiology
- 19 schoolsBest colleges for social work
- 10 schoolsBest value colleges
- 10 schoolsMost affordable colleges with strong academics
- 43 schoolsColleges with the highest graduation rates
- 24 schoolsBest small colleges
- 4 schoolsBest large colleges
- 15 schoolsBest mid-size colleges
- 12 schoolsBest colleges for NCAA Division I athletes
- 10 schoolsBest colleges for NCAA Division II athletes
- 3 schoolsBest colleges for NCAA Division III athletes
- 9 schoolsBest colleges for NAIA athletes
- 28 schoolsBest test-optional colleges
- 3 schoolsBest online colleges
- 10 schoolsColleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price
- 10 schoolsLowest net price for middle-income families
- 10 schoolsColleges with the lowest student debt
- 10 schoolsColleges with the best earnings for the price
- 7 schoolsColleges that pay for themselves fastest
- 3 schoolsBest colleges under $20,000 a year
- 10 schoolsBest value colleges in the South
- 10 schoolsColleges where the most freshmen return
- 10 schoolsColleges with the most faculty per student
- 10 schoolsColleges that spend the most on teaching
- 10 schoolsMost selective colleges
All colleges in Tennessee
| School | Compass Score | Value | Academics | Net price | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value. Nashville · Private nonprofit | A+Value: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A+Academics: A+ (grade A+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $15,846 | 13,456 | |
| Rhodes College Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value. Memphis · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | AAcademics: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $28,585 | 1,952 | |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value. Knoxville · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $18,976 | 36,304 | |
| The University of the South Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value. Sewanee · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | AAcademics: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $27,872 | 1,693 | |
| Lipscomb University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Nashville · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $24,739 | 5,047 | |
| Union University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Jackson · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $27,171 | 2,674 | |
| Belmont University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Nashville · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $33,147 | 8,862 | |
| Freed-Hardeman University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Henderson · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $21,574 | 2,294 | |
| Milligan University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Milligan · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $21,365 | 1,200 | |
| Lee University Cleveland · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $18,878 | 3,680 | |
| Tennessee Technological University Cookeville · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $14,246 | 10,117 | |
| Visible Music College Memphis · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $27,820 | 182 | |
| Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $13,359 | 20,183 | |
| Welch College Gallatin · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $25,263 | 389 | |
| Bryan College-Dayton Dayton · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $20,614 | 1,548 | |
| Fisk University Nashville · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $32,020 | 1,005 | |
| East Tennessee State University Johnson City · Public | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $15,983 | 13,586 | |
| Christian Brothers University Memphis · Private nonprofit | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $9,854 | 2,043 | |
| Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga Chattanooga · Private for-profit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $23,958 | 3,667 | |
| The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $10,701 | 6,941 | |
| Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $20,406 | 5,805 | |
| Southern Adventist University Collegedale · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $24,345 | 3,154 | |
| Johnson University Knoxville · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $22,063 | 950 | |
| Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville · Private nonprofit | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $16,813 | 3,196 | |
| Carson-Newman University Jefferson City · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $20,251 | 2,735 | |
| University of Memphis Memphis · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $12,397 | 21,736 | |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $14,265 | 11,380 | |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University Athens · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $14,836 | 1,074 | |
| Maryville College Maryville · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $19,360 | 1,147 | |
| Nossi College of Art and Design Nashville · Private for-profit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $24,044 | 278 | |
| Strayer University-Tennessee Memphis · Private for-profit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $11,645 | 2,920 | |
| The University of Tennessee Southern Pulaski · Public | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $12,798 | 978 | |
| Austin Peay State University Clarksville · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $9,735 | 9,945 | |
| Cumberland University Lebanon · Private nonprofit | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $18,759 | 3,072 | |
| King University Bristol · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $22,347 | 1,295 | |
| Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers Chattanooga · Private for-profit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $33,625 | 311 | |
| Baptist Health Sciences University Memphis · Private nonprofit | AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $11,212 | 755 | |
| South College Knoxville · Private for-profit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $17,858 | 8,234 | |
| Bethel University McKenzie · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $12,595 | 2,974 | |
| Tennessee State University Nashville · Public | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $15,796 | 8,198 | |
| Tusculum University Greeneville · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $21,131 | 1,200 | |
| Le Moyne-Owen College Memphis · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $7,099 | 646 | |
| Lane College Jackson · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $10,904 | 822 | |
| The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Memphis · Public | — | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | N/AAcademics: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | — | 3,121 |
| SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville Nashville · Private for-profit | — | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $24,700 | 1,800 |
| Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus Nashville · Private for-profit | — | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | N/AAcademics: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | $27,267 | 763 |
| Herzing University-Nashville Nashville · Private nonprofit | — | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | N/AAcademics: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | $20,537 | 75 |
| Williamson Christian College Franklin · Private nonprofit | — | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | N/AAcademics: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | — | 57 |
| American Baptist College Nashville · Private nonprofit | — | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | N/AAcademics: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | $9,216 | 48 |
| Aquinas College Nashville · Private nonprofit | — | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | N/AAcademics: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | — | — |
Common questions
How many colleges are in Tennessee?
Tennessee has 50 accredited four-year colleges on College Compass Guide.
Which colleges in Tennessee are Compass Recommended?
Vanderbilt University, Rhodes College, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, The University of the South, Lipscomb University, Union University, Belmont University, Freed-Hardeman University, Milligan University. Recommended means the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value (how it works).