by our College Data Analytics TeamVanderbilt University ranks #1 of 46 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges in Tennessee ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 60% six-year graduation rate and $68,189 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in Tennessee, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **46** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 46 colleges across over 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.
Vanderbilt University leads the 46 ranked colleges in Tennessee, followed by The University Of Tennessee (#2) and Belmont University (#3). Explore the leading colleges below:
No school ranked higher than Vanderbilt University this year in Tennessee. Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit school based in Nashville, TN. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Vanderbilt University graduates report median early-career earnings of $77,997. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Tennessee one of the top colleges in Tennessee. The University Of Tennessee is a public school based in Knoxville, TN. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. The University Of Tennessee graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,826. The University Of Tennessee students take on a median of $22,859 in debt.
You'll be in good company at Belmont University, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Nashville, TN, Belmont University is a private not-for-profit institution. Belmont University posts a six-year graduation rate of 70%. In-state tuition and fees run about $42,540. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,699. The median student debt is $23,447.
The strong outcomes at Rhodes College earned it the #4 place in Tennessee. Set in Memphis, TN, Rhodes College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,110. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,807. Rhodes College students take on a median of $23,078 in debt.
A rank of #5 makes The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center one of the top colleges in Tennessee. The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center is a public school based in Memphis, TN. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,911, with out-of-state students paying around $25,644. The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center graduates report median early-career earnings of $86,386. Graduates carry a median of $25,679 in student loans.
Sewanee The University Of The South came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Based in Sewanee, TN, Sewanee The University Of The South is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,120. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,927 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $22,091 in student loans.
Lipscomb University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Located in Nashville, TN, Lipscomb University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,572. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,949. The median student debt is $23,529.
Tennessee Technological University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in Cookeville, TN, Tennessee Technological University is a public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,376, with out-of-state students paying around $15,576. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,981 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $17,580.
Union University placed #9 among the best colleges in Tennessee. Union University is a private not-for-profit school based in Jackson, TN. About 66% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $37,398. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $68,508. Typical student debt is $28,605.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Chattanooga, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,448, compared with $18,512 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,000 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,324 to complete a degree here.
Middle Tennessee State University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Murfreesboro, TN, Middle Tennessee State University is a public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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.
Cumberland University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Lebanon, TN, Cumberland University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 42% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $27,840. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,696 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $21,902.
Trevecca Nazarene University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in Nashville, TN, Trevecca Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution. Trevecca Nazarene University posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. In-state tuition and fees run about $31,300. Median early-career earnings reach $52,004. Students borrow a median of $24,962 to complete a degree here.
Lincoln Memorial University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Located in Harrogate, TN, Lincoln Memorial University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,938. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,307 early in their careers. Lincoln Memorial University students take on a median of $20,693 in debt.
East Tennessee State University landed the #15 spot in Tennessee this year. Based in Johnson City, TN, East Tennessee State University is a public institution. East Tennessee State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. Students from in state pay about $10,216 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,726. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,444. East Tennessee State University students take on a median of $21,301 in debt.
Freed Hardeman University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Freed Hardeman University is a private not-for-profit school based in Henderson, TN. Freed Hardeman University graduates 69% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,620. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,530 early in their careers. Freed Hardeman University students take on a median of $24,479 in debt.
Milligan College did well this year, earning the #17 position. Milligan College is a private not-for-profit school based in Milligan, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,450. Milligan College graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,327. Students borrow a median of $26,150 to complete a degree here.
Carson Newman College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Located in Jefferson City, TN, Carson Newman College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. In-state tuition and fees run about $34,700. Median early-career earnings reach $48,797. Carson Newman College students take on a median of $22,843 in debt.
King College landed the #19 spot in Tennessee this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bristol, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. In-state tuition and fees average $20,397. King College graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,297. King College students take on a median of $25,579 in debt.
Southern Adventist University landed the #20 spot in Tennessee this year. Located in Collegedale, TN, Southern Adventist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,300. Graduates go on to earn a median of $61,366 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,498 to complete a degree here.
Christian Brothers University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Memphis, TN. Christian Brothers University posts a six-year graduation rate of 55%. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,420. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,040. The median student debt is $32,416.
University Of Memphis did well this year, earning the #22 position. Located in Memphis, TN, University Of Memphis is a public institution. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $10,728, compared with $15,384 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,890. Typical student debt is $26,315.
The University Of Tennessee Martin ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. The University Of Tennessee Martin is a public school based in Martin, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,560, compared with $16,600 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $40,400. The median student debt is $23,770.
Baptist Memorial College Of Health Sciences came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Based in Memphis, TN, Baptist Memorial College Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. 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. Baptist Memorial College Of Health Sciences students take on a median of $37,794 in debt.
Lee University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Based in Cleveland, TN, Lee University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. In-state tuition and fees average $23,790. Median early-career earnings reach $38,249. Lee University students take on a median of $26,422 in debt.
These 21 colleges rank #26 through #46 of 46 in Tennessee. 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), 2027 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.