2026 Best Best Schools in Tennessee

Best programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 2 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best best schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Best Schools in Tennessee

Best Schools for Best in Tennessee

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall best education in Tennessee.

Top Schools in Best

1

Lincoln Memorial University
Harrogate, TN

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

110 Best Degrees Awarded

$98,489 Median Starting Salary

Leading the list is Lincoln Memorial University, our #1 school for best. Located in the town of Harrogate, Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. Lincoln Memorial University awarded about 110 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Lincoln Memorial University earn a median of $98,489 early in their careers. Lincoln Memorial University graduates carry a median of $20,693 in student loans. Read more about the best program at Lincoln Memorial University

2

The University Of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

90 Best Degrees Awarded

$95,509 Median Starting Salary

Students looking for a strong best program will find one at The University Of Tennessee, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 90 best degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from The University Of Tennessee earn around $95,509 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Tennessee graduates carry a median of $22,859 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from The University Of Tennessee

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 2 schools evaluated.

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.