by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Tennessee, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **26** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 26 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:
Vanderbilt University earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Tennessee. This private not-for-profit school is set 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $77,997. Typical student debt is $13,975.
You'll be in good company at The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center, which ranked #2 this year. The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center is a public school based in Memphis, TN. In-state tuition and fees run about $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. Students borrow a median of $25,679 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #3 makes Sewanee The University Of The South one of the top graduate schools in Tennessee. Based in Sewanee, TN, Sewanee The University Of The South is a private not-for-profit institution. Sewanee The University Of The South posts a six-year graduation rate of 80%. 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. Students borrow a median of $22,091 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #4 makes The University Of Tennessee one of the top graduate schools in Tennessee. This public school is set in Knoxville, TN. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,826 early in their careers. The University Of Tennessee students take on a median of $22,859 in debt.
A rank of #5 makes Belmont University one of the top graduate schools in Tennessee. 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. Median early-career earnings reach $49,699. The median student debt is $23,447.
Lipscomb University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Lipscomb University is a private not-for-profit school based in Nashville, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. In-state tuition and fees average $40,572. Lipscomb University graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,949. Lipscomb University students take on a median of $23,529 in debt.
Tennessee Technological University placed #7 among the best graduate schools in Tennessee. Located in Cookeville, TN, Tennessee Technological University is a public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,376, compared with $15,576 for out-of-state students. Tennessee Technological University graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,981. Tennessee Technological University students take on a median of $17,580 in debt.
Lincoln Memorial University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Harrogate, TN, Lincoln Memorial University is a private not-for-profit institution. Lincoln Memorial University posts a six-year graduation rate of 47%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,938. Median early-career earnings reach $64,307. Lincoln Memorial University students take on a median of $20,693 in debt.
Middle Tennessee State University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Set in Murfreesboro, TN, Middle Tennessee State University is a public institution. Middle Tennessee State University graduates 54% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Median early-career earnings reach $43,575. The median student debt is $22,754.
Union University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Jackson, TN, Union University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. In-state tuition and fees run about $37,398. Union University graduates report median early-career earnings of $68,508. Graduates carry a median of $28,605 in student loans.
Christian Brothers University landed the #11 spot in Tennessee this year. Set in Memphis, TN, Christian Brothers University is a private not-for-profit institution. Christian Brothers University posts a six-year graduation rate of 55%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,420. Christian Brothers University graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,040. Graduates carry a median of $32,416 in student loans.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga came in at #12 in this year's ranking. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $18,512. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,000. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga students take on a median of $23,324 in debt.
Milligan College landed the #13 spot in Tennessee this year. Set in Milligan, TN, Milligan College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,450. 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.
Freed Hardeman University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Freed Hardeman University is a private not-for-profit school based in Henderson, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,620. Freed Hardeman University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,530. Graduates carry a median of $24,479 in student loans.
Cumberland University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Cumberland University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lebanon, TN. About 42% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,840. Cumberland University graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,696. Graduates carry a median of $21,902 in student loans.
Trevecca Nazarene University placed #16 among the best graduate schools in Tennessee. Trevecca Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit school based in Nashville, TN. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $31,300. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,004. Graduates carry a median of $24,962 in student loans.
University Of Memphis did well this year, earning the #17 position. Based in Memphis, TN, University Of Memphis is a public institution. About 51% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. Median early-career earnings reach $48,890. Students borrow a median of $26,315 to complete a degree here.
Carson Newman College landed the #18 spot in Tennessee this year. Set in Jefferson City, TN, Carson Newman College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,700. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,797. Carson Newman College students take on a median of $22,843 in debt.
East Tennessee State University did well this year, earning the #19 position. East Tennessee State University is a public school based in Johnson City, TN. East Tennessee State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,216, while out-of-state students pay about $13,726. Median early-career earnings reach $45,444. Typical student debt is $21,301.
King College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. King College is a private not-for-profit school based in Bristol, TN. King College posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,397. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,297 early in their careers. King College students take on a median of $25,579 in debt.
The University Of Tennessee Martin did well this year, earning the #21 position. Located in Martin, TN, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a public institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $10,560, with out-of-state students paying around $16,600. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,400. The University Of Tennessee Martin students take on a median of $23,770 in debt.
Tennessee Wesleyan College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Tennessee Wesleyan College is a private not-for-profit school based in Athens, TN. Tennessee Wesleyan College graduates 48% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $30,814 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,859 early in their careers. The median student debt is $29,750.
Lee University landed the #23 spot in Tennessee this year. Located in Cleveland, TN, Lee University is a private not-for-profit institution. Lee University graduates 63% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $23,790 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $38,249. The median student debt is $26,422.
Southern Adventist University landed the #24 spot in Tennessee this year. Located in Collegedale, TN, Southern Adventist University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,300. Early-career graduates earn a median of $61,366. The median student debt is $25,498.
Bryan College Dayton placed #25 among the best graduate schools in Tennessee. Based in Dayton, TN, Bryan College Dayton is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,800. Median early-career earnings reach $44,067. Bryan College Dayton students take on a median of $25,652 in debt.
These graduate schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.