by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Tennessee, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **29** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 29 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.
Explore the leading colleges below:
No school ranked higher than Vanderbilt University this year in Tennessee. Based in Nashville, TN, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Vanderbilt University graduates report median early-career earnings of $77,997. The median student debt is $13,975.
Belmont University came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Tennessee. Set in Nashville, TN, Belmont University is a private not-for-profit institution. Belmont University posts a six-year graduation rate of 70%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,540. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,699 early in their careers. Belmont University students take on a median of $23,447 in debt.
Out of the 29 colleges in Tennessee in this year's ranking, The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center landed the #3 spot. Located in Memphis, TN, The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,911, while out-of-state students pay about $25,644. The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center graduates report median early-career earnings of $86,386. The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center students take on a median of $25,679 in debt.
You'll be in good company at The University Of Tennessee, which ranked #4 this year. Based in Knoxville, TN, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Median early-career earnings reach $49,826. Students borrow a median of $22,859 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at Rhodes College earned it the #5 place in Tennessee. Based in Memphis, TN, Rhodes College is a private not-for-profit institution. Rhodes College posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. In-state tuition and fees run about $57,110. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,807. Students borrow a median of $23,078 to complete a degree here.
Sewanee The University Of The South came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Located in Sewanee, TN, Sewanee The University Of The South is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,120. Median early-career earnings reach $36,927. Typical student debt is $22,091.
Lipscomb University placed #7 among the best colleges in Tennessee. This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,572. Median early-career earnings reach $48,949. The median student debt is $23,529.
Tennessee Technological University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Cookeville, TN. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $11,376, with out-of-state students paying around $15,576. Tennessee Technological University graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,981. Graduates carry a median of $17,580 in student loans.
Union University placed #9 among the best colleges in Tennessee. Based in Jackson, TN, Union University is a private not-for-profit institution. Union University graduates 66% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $37,398. Early-career graduates earn a median of $68,508. Graduates carry a median of $28,605 in student loans.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga landed the #10 spot in Tennessee this year. This public school is set in Chattanooga, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,448, compared with $18,512 for out-of-state students. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,000. Typical student debt is $23,324.
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #11 spot in Tennessee this year. Set in Murfreesboro, TN, Middle Tennessee State University is a public institution. Middle Tennessee State University graduates 54% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,575. Students borrow a median of $22,754 to complete a degree here.
Trevecca Nazarene University landed the #12 spot in Tennessee this year. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,004 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,962.
Cumberland University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Set in Lebanon, TN, Cumberland University is a private not-for-profit institution. Cumberland University posts a six-year graduation rate of 42%. In-state tuition and fees average $27,840. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,696. Graduates carry a median of $21,902 in student loans.
Milligan College did well this year, earning the #14 position. Milligan College is a private not-for-profit school based in Milligan, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. In-state tuition and fees average $40,450. Early-career graduates earn a median of $64,327. Students borrow a median of $26,150 to complete a degree here.
Freed Hardeman University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Henderson, TN, Freed Hardeman University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. In-state tuition and fees run about $25,620. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,530. Students borrow a median of $24,479 to complete a degree here.
East Tennessee State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Johnson City, TN. East Tennessee State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,216, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,444 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $21,301 in student loans.
Christian Brothers University landed the #17 spot in Tennessee this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Memphis, TN. About 55% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $38,420 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,040 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $32,416.
Lincoln Memorial University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Harrogate, TN, Lincoln Memorial University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,938. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,307 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,693 to complete a degree here.
Southern Adventist University placed #19 among the best colleges in Tennessee. Based in Collegedale, TN, Southern Adventist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Southern Adventist University graduates 55% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,300. Median early-career earnings reach $61,366. Students borrow a median of $25,498 to complete a degree here.
King College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. King College is a private not-for-profit school based in Bristol, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. In-state tuition and fees run about $20,397. Median early-career earnings reach $49,297. The median student debt is $25,579.
Carson Newman College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Carson Newman College is a private not-for-profit school based in Jefferson City, TN. Carson Newman College posts a six-year graduation rate of 52%. In-state tuition and fees average $34,700. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,797. Graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans.
Baptist Memorial College Of Health Sciences landed the #22 spot in Tennessee this year. Baptist Memorial College Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit school based in Memphis, TN. About 38% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $13,796 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $57,349. Baptist Memorial College Of Health Sciences students take on a median of $37,794 in debt.
Lee University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Lee University is a private not-for-profit school based in Cleveland, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. In-state tuition and fees run about $23,790. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $38,249. Students borrow a median of $26,422 to complete a degree here.
University Of Memphis came in at #24 in this year's ranking. University Of Memphis is a public school based in Memphis, TN. University Of Memphis graduates 51% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,728, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,890. Graduates carry a median of $26,315 in student loans.
The University Of Tennessee Martin placed #25 among the best colleges in Tennessee. Set in Martin, TN, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a public institution. The University Of Tennessee Martin posts a six-year graduation rate of 52%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,560, while out-of-state students pay about $16,600. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,400. Graduates carry a median of $23,770 in student loans.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published 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.