by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Tennessee, it can be hard to know where to start. We have ranked **41** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 41 colleges on more than 20 objective measures 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.
The best college for you depends on what you want to study. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Ready to build your own comparison? We built a tool called College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Here are the top-ranked colleges:
Leading the list is Vanderbilt University, our #1 college in Tennessee. This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Early-career graduates earn a median of $77,997. Graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Memphis, TN, The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,911 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,644 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $86,386. The median student debt is $25,679.
Out of the 41 colleges in Tennessee in this year's ranking, Southern College Of Optometry landed the #3 spot. Located in Memphis, TN, Southern College Of Optometry is a private not-for-profit institution. Median early-career earnings reach $106,728.
A rank of #4 makes Rhodes College one of the top colleges in Tennessee. Set in Memphis, TN, Rhodes College is a private not-for-profit institution. Rhodes College posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,110. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,807. Typical student debt is $23,078.
You'll be in good company at Belmont University, which ranked #5 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. Belmont University graduates 70% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $42,540. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,699 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $23,447.
The University Of Tennessee ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Knoxville, TN, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. 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.
Sewanee The University Of The South placed #7 among the best colleges in Tennessee. This private not-for-profit school is set in Sewanee, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Students from in state pay about $56,120 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $36,927. Sewanee The University Of The South students take on a median of $22,091 in debt.
Lipscomb University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Nashville, TN, Lipscomb University is a private not-for-profit institution. Lipscomb University graduates 72% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $40,572. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,949 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete a degree here.
Tennessee Technological University landed the #9 spot in Tennessee this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $15,576. Median early-career earnings reach $46,981. Students borrow a median of $17,580 to complete a degree here.
Union University did well this year, earning the #10 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Jackson, TN. Union University graduates 66% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,398. Graduates go on to earn a median of $68,508 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,605 to complete a degree here.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga placed #11 among the best colleges in Tennessee. Based in Chattanooga, TN, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a public institution. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga posts a six-year graduation rate of 50%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,448, while out-of-state students pay about $18,512. Median early-career earnings reach $50,000. Graduates carry a median of $23,324 in student loans.
Middle Tennessee State University did well this year, earning the #12 position. This public school is set in Murfreesboro, TN. About 54% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, while out-of-state students pay about $31,574. Median early-career earnings reach $43,575. Middle Tennessee State University students take on a median of $22,754 in debt.
Lincoln Memorial University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Set in Harrogate, TN, Lincoln Memorial University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $26,938 in tuition and fees. Lincoln Memorial University graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,307. Students borrow a median of $20,693 to complete a degree here.
Cumberland University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Set in Lebanon, TN, Cumberland University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $27,840. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,696. Cumberland University students take on a median of $21,902 in debt.
Milligan College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Set in Milligan, TN, Milligan College is a private not-for-profit institution. Milligan College posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. In-state tuition and fees average $40,450. Median early-career earnings reach $64,327. Typical student debt is $26,150.
Christian Brothers University did well this year, earning the #16 position. Located in Memphis, TN, Christian Brothers University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,420. Median early-career earnings reach $51,040. Christian Brothers University students take on a median of $32,416 in debt.
Freed Hardeman University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based 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 average $25,620. Median early-career earnings reach $54,530. The median student debt is $24,479.
Trevecca Nazarene University did well this year, earning the #18 position. Located in Nashville, TN, Trevecca Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,300. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,004 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,962.
East Tennessee State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. 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%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,216, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. East Tennessee State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,444. Students borrow a median of $21,301 to complete a degree here.
Carson Newman College placed #20 among the best colleges in Tennessee. Located in Jefferson City, TN, Carson Newman College is a private not-for-profit institution. Carson Newman College posts a six-year graduation rate of 52%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,700. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,797 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,843 to complete a degree here.
King College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Bristol, TN, King College is a private not-for-profit institution. King College graduates 49% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $20,397. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,297. King College students take on a median of $25,579 in debt.
University Of Memphis placed #22 among the best colleges in Tennessee. Based 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 run about $10,728, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,890. Graduates carry a median of $26,315 in student loans.
Baptist Memorial College Of Health Sciences landed the #23 spot in Tennessee this year. Based in Memphis, TN, Baptist Memorial College Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 38%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,796. Baptist Memorial College Of Health Sciences graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,349. Students borrow a median of $37,794 to complete a degree here.
The University Of Tennessee Martin did well this year, earning the #24 position. 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%. Students from in state pay about $10,560 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,600. The University Of Tennessee Martin graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,400. Students borrow a median of $23,770 to complete a degree here.
Southern Adventist University came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Set in Collegedale, TN, Southern Adventist University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $27,300 in tuition and fees. Southern Adventist University graduates report median early-career earnings of $61,366. Typical student debt is $25,498.
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.
These rankings are produced 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.