by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in Tennessee, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked 124 programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual analyzed graduate schools 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.
Your ideal graduate school depends on your goals. Drill down by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Start by picking a degree level:
Looking to pit your favorite graduate schools against each other? Try our tool College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Our analysis found Vanderbilt University to be the best graduate school in Tennessee. This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. In-state tuition and fees run about $67,498. Early-career graduates 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. Set in Memphis, TN, The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,911, compared with $25,644 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $86,386 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $25,679 in student loans.
Out of the 124 graduate schools in Tennessee in this year's ranking, Southern College Of Optometry landed the #3 spot. Southern College Of Optometry is a private not-for-profit school based in Memphis, TN. Graduates go on to earn a median of $106,728 early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes Rhodes College one of the top graduate schools in Tennessee. This private not-for-profit school is set in Memphis, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. In-state tuition and fees run about $57,110. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,807. Students borrow a median of $23,078 to complete a degree here.
Belmont University came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Tennessee. This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. About 70% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $42,540 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,699. The median student debt is $23,447.
The University Of Tennessee placed #6 among the best graduate schools in Tennessee. Located in Knoxville, TN, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,826. Graduates carry a median of $22,859 in student loans.
Sewanee The University Of The South did well this year, earning the #7 position. Sewanee The University Of The South is a private not-for-profit school based in Sewanee, TN. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $56,120. Sewanee The University Of The South graduates report median early-career earnings of $36,927. Graduates carry a median of $22,091 in student loans.
Lipscomb University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Based in Nashville, TN, Lipscomb University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,572. Lipscomb University graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,949. Graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
Tennessee Technological University landed the #9 spot in Tennessee this year. Based in Cookeville, TN, Tennessee Technological University is a public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,376, while out-of-state students pay about $15,576. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,981. Tennessee Technological University students take on a median of $17,580 in debt.
Union University did well this year, earning the #10 position. 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 run about $37,398. Early-career graduates earn a median of $68,508. The median student debt is $28,605.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga came in at #11 in this year's ranking. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a public school based in Chattanooga, TN. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates 50% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,448, compared with $18,512 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,000. Graduates carry a median of $23,324 in student loans.
Middle Tennessee State University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Murfreesboro, TN, Middle Tennessee State University is a public institution. Middle Tennessee State University graduates 54% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,575. The median student debt is $22,754.
Lincoln Memorial University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in Harrogate, TN, Lincoln Memorial University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,938. Early-career graduates earn a median of $64,307. Graduates carry a median of $20,693 in student loans.
Cumberland University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Set in Lebanon, TN, Cumberland University is a private not-for-profit institution. Cumberland University posts a six-year graduation rate of 42%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,840. Median early-career earnings reach $47,696. Typical student debt is $21,902.
Milligan College did well this year, earning the #15 position. Milligan College is a private not-for-profit school based in Milligan, TN. Milligan College graduates 63% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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.
Christian Brothers University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Set 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,040 early in their careers. The median student debt is $32,416.
Freed Hardeman University placed #17 among the best graduate schools in Tennessee. Based in Henderson, TN, Freed Hardeman University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,620. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,530. Freed Hardeman University students take on a median of $24,479 in debt.
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. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. 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. Students borrow a median of $24,962 to complete a degree here.
East Tennessee State University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Based in Johnson City, TN, East Tennessee State University is a public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,216, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. Median early-career earnings reach $45,444. The median student debt is $21,301.
Carson Newman College placed #20 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%. Students from in state pay about $34,700 in tuition and fees. Carson Newman College graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,797. Students borrow a median of $22,843 to complete a degree here.
King College placed #21 among the best graduate schools in Tennessee. Based in Bristol, TN, King College is a private not-for-profit institution. King College posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,397. Early-career graduates 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 graduate schools in Tennessee. Set in Memphis, TN, University Of Memphis is a public institution. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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.
Baptist Memorial College Of Health Sciences placed #23 among the best graduate schools in Tennessee. Located 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 average $13,796. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,349 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $37,794 to complete a degree here.
The University Of Tennessee Martin came in at #24 in this year's ranking. The University Of Tennessee Martin is a public school based in Martin, TN. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $16,600. Median early-career earnings reach $40,400. Graduates carry a median of $23,770 in student loans.
Southern Adventist University placed #25 among the best graduate schools in Tennessee. Set in Collegedale, TN, Southern Adventist University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. In-state tuition and fees run about $27,300. Graduates go on to earn a median of $61,366 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,498.
These graduate schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Graduate schools are scored on 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.