by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Tennessee, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **35** programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual analyzed 35 graduate schools 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.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
Our analysis found Vanderbilt University to be the best graduate school 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Vanderbilt University graduates report median early-career earnings of $77,997. Vanderbilt University students take on a median of $13,975 in debt.
You'll be in good company at The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center, which ranked #2 this year. This public school is set in Memphis, TN. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,911, with out-of-state students paying around $25,644. Early-career graduates earn a median of $86,386. Graduates carry a median of $25,679 in student loans.
A rank of #3 makes Sewanee The University Of The South one of the top graduate schools in Tennessee. Set in Sewanee, TN, Sewanee The University Of The South is a private not-for-profit institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,120. Sewanee The University Of The South graduates report median early-career earnings of $36,927. Typical student debt is $22,091.
The strong outcomes at The University Of Tennessee earned it the #4 place in Tennessee. Based in Knoxville, TN, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. The University Of Tennessee posts a six-year graduation rate of 74%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $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 #5 this year. Belmont University is a private not-for-profit school based in Nashville, TN. About 70% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,540. Belmont University graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,699. The median student debt is $23,447.
Lipscomb University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Located in Nashville, TN, Lipscomb University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $40,572. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,949. Typical student debt is $23,529.
Cumberland University landed the #7 spot in Tennessee this year. Located in Lebanon, TN, Cumberland University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. In-state tuition and fees run about $27,840. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,696. Typical student debt is $21,902.
Tennessee Technological University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Set in Cookeville, TN, Tennessee Technological University is a public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $11,376 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,576 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $46,981. Graduates carry a median of $17,580 in student loans.
Rhodes College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Rhodes College is a private not-for-profit school based in Memphis, TN. About 84% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,110. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,807 early in their careers. Rhodes College students take on a median of $23,078 in debt.
Lincoln Memorial University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Harrogate, TN. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $26,938 in tuition and fees. Lincoln Memorial University graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,307. Typical student debt is $20,693.
Christian Brothers University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Based in Memphis, TN, Christian Brothers University is a private not-for-profit institution. Christian Brothers University graduates 55% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $38,420 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $51,040. Typical student debt is $32,416.
Union University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Union University is a private not-for-profit school based in Jackson, TN. Union University posts a six-year graduation rate of 66%. In-state tuition and fees average $37,398. Median early-career earnings reach $68,508. Students borrow a median of $28,605 to complete a degree here.
Middle Tennessee State University placed #13 among the best graduate schools in Tennessee. This public school is set in Murfreesboro, TN. Middle Tennessee State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,575. Students borrow a median of $22,754 to complete a degree here.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga placed #14 among the best graduate schools in Tennessee. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a public school based in Chattanooga, TN. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga posts a six-year graduation rate of 50%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,448, compared with $18,512 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $50,000. Typical student debt is $23,324.
Trevecca Nazarene University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Set 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.
Milligan College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Based 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 run about $40,450. Milligan College graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,327. The median student debt is $26,150.
Carson Newman College did well this year, earning the #17 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Jefferson City, TN. Carson Newman College graduates 52% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $34,700 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,797 early in their careers. The median student debt is $22,843.
Freed Hardeman University landed the #18 spot in Tennessee this year. Located in Henderson, TN, Freed Hardeman University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $25,620 in tuition and fees. Freed Hardeman University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,530. Typical student debt is $24,479.
East Tennessee State University did well this year, earning the #19 position. This public school is set in Johnson City, TN. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $10,216, while out-of-state students pay about $13,726. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,444. Typical student debt is $21,301.
University Of Memphis landed the #20 spot in Tennessee this year. Set in Memphis, TN, University Of Memphis is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,728, compared with $15,384 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,890. Graduates carry a median of $26,315 in student loans.
Tennessee Wesleyan College did well this year, earning the #21 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Athens, TN. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,814. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,859 early in their careers. The median student debt is $29,750.
King College did well this year, earning the #22 position. Located in Bristol, TN, King College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. Students from in state pay about $20,397 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $49,297. Students borrow a median of $25,579 to complete a degree here.
The University Of Tennessee Martin came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Based 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%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,560, with out-of-state students paying around $16,600. Median early-career earnings reach $40,400. The University Of Tennessee Martin students take on a median of $23,770 in debt.
Lee University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Cleveland, TN, Lee University is a private not-for-profit institution. Lee University posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. In-state tuition and fees run about $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.
Southern Adventist University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Collegedale, TN. Southern Adventist University graduates 55% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,300. Southern Adventist University graduates report median early-career earnings of $61,366. Typical student debt is $25,498.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Rankings consider 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.