by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Tennessee, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked **19** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 19 colleges using more than 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
No school ranked higher than Cumberland University this year in Tennessee. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lebanon, TN. Cumberland University graduates 42% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $27,840. Cumberland University graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,696. The median student debt is $21,902.
The strong outcomes at Union University earned it the #2 place in Tennessee. This private not-for-profit school is set in Jackson, TN. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $37,398. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $68,508. The median student debt is $28,605.
Freed Hardeman University came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Tennessee. Based in Henderson, TN, Freed Hardeman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,620. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,530 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,479.
Carson Newman College came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Tennessee. Set in Jefferson City, TN, Carson Newman College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $34,700. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,797 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans.
Out of the 19 colleges in Tennessee in this year's ranking, Lincoln Memorial University landed the #5 spot. Lincoln Memorial University is a private not-for-profit school based in Harrogate, TN. Lincoln Memorial University posts a six-year graduation rate of 47%. In-state tuition and fees run about $26,938. Lincoln Memorial University graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,307. Typical student debt is $20,693.
Volunteer State Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Gallatin, TN, Volunteer State Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,756, with out-of-state students paying around $17,740. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,137. Volunteer State Community College students take on a median of $12,462 in debt.
Austin Peay State University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Austin Peay State University is a public school based in Clarksville, TN. About 39% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,006 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,766 for out-of-state students. Austin Peay State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,360. Graduates carry a median of $24,530 in student loans.
Baptist Memorial College Of Health Sciences ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Memphis, TN. About 38% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,796. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,349. Graduates carry a median of $37,794 in student loans.
Motlow State Community College did well this year, earning the #9 position. Set in Tullahoma, TN, Motlow State Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,738, while out-of-state students pay about $17,722. Median early-career earnings reach $43,750. Students borrow a median of $6,470 to complete a degree here.
Trevecca Nazarene University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Nashville, TN, Trevecca Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution. Trevecca Nazarene University graduates 53% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $31,300. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,004. Students borrow a median of $24,962 to complete a degree here.
John A Gupton College landed the #11 spot in Tennessee this year. Based in Nashville, TN, John A Gupton College is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,141. John A Gupton College students take on a median of $17,257 in debt.
Southern Adventist University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Southern Adventist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Collegedale, TN. Southern Adventist University graduates 55% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $27,300. Graduates go on to earn a median of $61,366 early in their careers. Southern Adventist University students take on a median of $25,498 in debt.
Pellissippi State Community College did well this year, earning the #13 position. This public school is set in Knoxville, TN. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,786, while out-of-state students pay about $17,770. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,816. The median student debt is $8,951.
Dyersburg State Community College landed the #14 spot in Tennessee this year. Based in Dyersburg, TN, Dyersburg State Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,758 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,060. Median early-career earnings reach $41,177. Typical student debt is $10,611.
Galen Health Institutes Nashville Campus came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Based in Nashville, TN, Galen Health Institutes Nashville Campus is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,048. Galen Health Institutes Nashville Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $72,174. Students borrow a median of $40,317 to complete a degree here.
South College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. South College is a private for-profit school based in Knoxville, TN. About 53% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,535. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,389 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $24,533 in student loans.
Columbia State Community College placed #17 among the best colleges in Tennessee. Located in Columbia, TN, Columbia State Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,948 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,772 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,481 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $12,674.
Walters State Community College placed #18 among the best colleges in Tennessee. Based in Morristown, TN, Walters State Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,752, while out-of-state students pay about $17,736. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,866 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $10,210 in student loans.
Jackson State Community College placed #19 among the best colleges in Tennessee. Located in Jackson, TN, Jackson State Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,740 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,724. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,438. Typical student debt is $8,553.
Northeast State Community College landed the #20 spot in Tennessee this year. Based in Blountville, TN, Northeast State Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,782, compared with $17,766 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $39,673. The median student debt is $6,404.
Lee University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Located in Cleveland, TN, Lee University is a private not-for-profit institution. Lee University graduates 63% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,790. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,249 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,422 to complete a degree here.
Roane State Community College did well this year, earning the #22 position. Located in Harriman, TN, Roane State Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,998 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,630. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $36,933. Graduates carry a median of $9,408 in student loans.
Johnson University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Knoxville, TN, Johnson University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $21,122. Graduates go on to earn a median of $34,290 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $23,819 in student loans.
Chattanooga State Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Chattanooga, TN. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,772, with out-of-state students paying around $17,756. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $37,252. Graduates carry a median of $12,079 in student loans.
Southwest Tennessee Community College landed the #25 spot in Tennessee this year. Set in Memphis, TN, Southwest Tennessee Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,766, while out-of-state students pay about $17,750. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,592 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,406 to complete a degree here.
Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.