by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Tennessee, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights **22** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 22 graduate schools 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.
Here is the early-career salary range across the top-ranked graduate schools:
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Leading the list is Vanderbilt University, our #1 graduate school in Tennessee. Based in Nashville, TN, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Median early-career earnings reach $77,997. Vanderbilt University students take on a median of $13,975 in debt.
The strong outcomes at The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center earned it the #2 place in Tennessee. Set in Memphis, TN, The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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 median student debt is $25,679.
A rank of #3 makes Southern College Of Optometry one of the top graduate schools in Tennessee. Located in Memphis, TN, Southern College Of Optometry is a private not-for-profit institution. Southern College Of Optometry graduates report median early-career earnings of $106,728.
You'll be in good company at Belmont University, which ranked #4 this year. Located in Nashville, TN, Belmont University is a private not-for-profit institution. Belmont University graduates 70% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,540. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,699. Students borrow a median of $23,447 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at The University Of Tennessee, which ranked #5 this year. Set 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 average $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.
Tennessee Technological University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based 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. Tennessee Technological University graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,981. Typical student debt is $17,580.
Lipscomb University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Based in Nashville, TN, Lipscomb University is a private not-for-profit institution. Lipscomb University posts a six-year graduation rate of 72%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,572. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,949. Graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
Middle Tennessee School Of Anesthesia Inc ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Madison, TN. Middle Tennessee School Of Anesthesia Inc graduates report median early-career earnings of $200,989.
Union University placed #9 among the best graduate schools in Tennessee. This private not-for-profit school is set in Jackson, TN. About 66% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,398. Early-career graduates earn a median of $68,508. Typical student debt is $28,605.
Lincoln Memorial University landed the #10 spot in Tennessee this year. Lincoln Memorial University is a private not-for-profit school based in Harrogate, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,938. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,307 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $20,693.
Milligan College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Milligan, TN. Milligan College posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. Students from in state pay about $40,450 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,327 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,150 to complete a degree here.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga did well this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Chattanooga, TN, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a public institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,448, while out-of-state students pay about $18,512. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,000. The median student debt is $23,324.
Freed Hardeman University placed #13 among the best graduate schools in Tennessee. This private not-for-profit school is set in Henderson, TN. Freed Hardeman University graduates 69% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $25,620. Freed Hardeman University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,530. The median student debt is $24,479.
Trevecca Nazarene University landed the #14 spot in Tennessee this year. Located in Nashville, TN, Trevecca Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. Students from in state pay about $31,300 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,004. The median student debt is $24,962.
Middle Tennessee State University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Murfreesboro, TN, Middle Tennessee State University is a public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,575 early in their careers. Middle Tennessee State University students take on a median of $22,754 in debt.
Carson Newman College placed #16 among the best graduate schools in Tennessee. Set 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%. In-state tuition and fees run about $34,700. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,797 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $22,843.
East Tennessee State University landed the #17 spot in Tennessee this year. Set in Johnson City, TN, East Tennessee State University is a public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,216, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. East Tennessee State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,444. The median student debt is $21,301.
South College did well this year, earning the #18 position. Set in Knoxville, TN, South College is a private for-profit institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $18,535 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,389. Typical student debt is $24,533.
University Of Memphis came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Based in Memphis, TN, University Of Memphis is a public institution. University Of Memphis graduates 51% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,728, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. University Of Memphis graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,890. Graduates carry a median of $26,315 in student loans.
Austin Peay State University landed the #20 spot in Tennessee this year. Located in Clarksville, TN, Austin Peay State University is a public institution. Austin Peay State University graduates 39% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,006, compared with $14,766 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $44,360. Typical student debt is $24,530.
Tennessee State University placed #21 among the best graduate schools in Tennessee. Tennessee State University is a public school based in Nashville, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. In-state tuition and fees average $8,616, compared with $22,416 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,060 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $29,489 in student loans.
Memphis Theological Seminary did well this year, earning the #22 position. Set in Memphis, TN, Memphis Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.