2027 Best Psychology Schools in Tennessee
Psychology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 33 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for psychology students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Psychology in Tennessee
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Psychology
No school ranked higher than Vanderbilt University this year for psychology. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 175 psychology degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $36,716 early in their careers. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $11,209 in student loans.
Read more about the psychology program at Vanderbilt University
Belmont University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best psychology schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 74 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Belmont University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $49,699 in their early career. Belmont University graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in psychology from Belmont University
The University Of Tennessee is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in psychology, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Knoxville. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 427 psychology students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from The University Of Tennessee earn around $47,265 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,081 to complete this degree.
See the full psychology program report for The University Of Tennessee
Sewanee The University Of The South is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in psychology, ranking #4. Set in the rural area of Sewanee, Sewanee The University Of The South is a small private not-for-profit institution. Sewanee The University Of The South graduates 80% of students within six years. About 32 psychology degrees were awarded at Sewanee The University Of The South in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of Sewanee The University Of The South earn a median of $35,379 early in their careers. Sewanee The University Of The South graduates carry a median of $17,148 in student loans.
Read more about the psychology program at Sewanee The University Of The South
Rhodes College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in psychology, ranking #5. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Memphis. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 39 psychology degrees were awarded at Rhodes College in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Rhodes College earn around $37,563 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,589 to complete this degree.
Get the full psychology details for Rhodes College
Middle Tennessee State University placed #6 among the best psychology schools. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 271 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $36,033. Typical student debt for the program is $23,371.
More information about a degree in psychology from Middle Tennessee State University
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga came in at #7 for psychology this year. Set in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga awarded about 227 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga generally make around $48,892. Typical student debt for the program is $21,898.
Read more about the psychology program at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga
Lincoln Memorial University came in at #8 for psychology this year. Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Harrogate. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. There were roughly 22 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Lincoln Memorial University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Lincoln Memorial University earn around $64,307 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,693 to complete this degree.
Read more about the psychology program at Lincoln Memorial University
Trevecca Nazarene University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best psychology schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Trevecca Nazarene University awarded about 84 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Trevecca Nazarene University earn a median of $41,524 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,375.
More information about a degree in psychology from Trevecca Nazarene University
East Tennessee State University placed #10 among the best psychology schools. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. East Tennessee State University awarded about 169 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from East Tennessee State University earn around $26,403 in the first couple years of their career. East Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $17,976 in student loans.
Get the full psychology details for East Tennessee State University
Tennessee Technological University earned the #11 position for psychology this year. Tennessee Technological University is a large public school located in the town of Cookeville. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 54 psychology degrees were awarded at Tennessee Technological University in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Tennessee Technological University earn around $28,394 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,750.
Read more about the psychology program at Tennessee Technological University
Lipscomb University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best psychology schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 65 psychology degrees were awarded at Lipscomb University in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of Lipscomb University earn a median of $44,394 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,062 to complete this degree.
Get the full psychology details for Lipscomb University
University Of Memphis earned the #13 position for psychology this year. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. About 51% of students finish within six years. University Of Memphis awarded about 215 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $83,559 in their early career. University Of Memphis graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full psychology program report for University Of Memphis
Tennessee Wesleyan College landed the #14 spot for psychology this year. Located in the town of Athens, Tennessee Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit university. Tennessee Wesleyan College graduates 48% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Tennessee Wesleyan College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $58,859 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,750.
See the full psychology program report for Tennessee Wesleyan College
Southern Adventist University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 55 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Southern Adventist University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Southern Adventist University generally make around $44,970. Typical student debt for the program is $25,498.
More information about a degree in psychology from Southern Adventist University
Milligan College came in at #16 for psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Milligan, Milligan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 10 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Milligan College in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Milligan College earn a median of $64,327 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,150.
More information about a degree in psychology from Milligan College
Fisk University placed #17 among the best psychology schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Fisk University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Fisk University graduates 30% of students within six years. Fisk University awarded about 17 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Fisk University generally make around $38,089. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full psychology details for Fisk University
Freed Hardeman University came in at #18 for psychology this year. Set in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. Freed Hardeman University awarded about 43 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $54,530 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full psychology details for Freed Hardeman University
Cumberland University placed #19 among the best psychology schools. Located in the town of Lebanon, Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 42% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Cumberland University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Cumberland University generally make around $27,023. Typical student debt for the program is $22,437.
Get the full psychology details for Cumberland University
Maryville College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best psychology schools. Maryville College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Maryville. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Maryville College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $42,971 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,283 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in psychology from Maryville College
South College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best psychology schools. Located in the city of Knoxville, South College is a very large private for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. There were roughly 61 psychology students who graduated with this degree at South College in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of South College earn a median of $51,389 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,533.
See the full psychology program report for South College
Bryan College Dayton landed the #22 spot for psychology this year. Located in the town of Dayton, Bryan College Dayton is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Bryan College Dayton graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Bryan College Dayton in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Bryan College Dayton earn around $44,067 in the first couple years of their career. Bryan College Dayton graduates carry a median of $23,880 in student loans.
Get the full psychology details for Bryan College Dayton
Johnson University landed the #23 spot for psychology this year. Set in the rural area of Knoxville, Johnson University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Johnson University graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Johnson University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $34,290 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,819.
See the full psychology program report for Johnson University
The University Of Tennessee Martin placed #24 among the best psychology schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Martin. The University Of Tennessee Martin graduates 52% of students within six years. The University Of Tennessee Martin awarded about 38 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee Martin generally make around $27,433. Typical student debt for the program is $26,373.
Get the full psychology details for The University Of Tennessee Martin
Austin Peay State University placed #25 among the best psychology schools. Austin Peay State University is a large public school located in the city of Clarksville. About 39% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 95 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Austin Peay State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Austin Peay State University generally make around $57,144. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in psychology from Austin Peay State University
Rest of the Top 33 Psychology Schools
These schools also placed among the best for psychology this year:
View All Psychology Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 33 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.