by our College Data Analytics TeamIf you’re seeking a diverse and multi-faceted college experience, you’ve come to the right place. This list highlights 134 institutions that stand out for their student bodies in Tennessee, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs the economic backgrounds of the student body (the mix of income levels). To help you decide, College Factual analyzed 134 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Your ideal mix depends on what matters most to you. Narrow your list by location, or explore the overall, racial-ethnic, gender, economic, and age diversity rankings, or other rankings below.
Ready to build your own comparison? Try our tool College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Explore the leading colleges below:
No school ranked more economically diverse than Empire Beauty School-Nashville this year in Tennessee. Empire Beauty School-Nashville scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 64.0, with a gender-diversity score of 16.3.
Out of the 134 colleges in Tennessee in this year's ranking, South College landed the #2 spot. South College scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 57.8, with a gender-diversity score of 62.2.
University of Memphis earned the #3 place in Tennessee. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 67.7, alongside a 97.4 gender-diversity score.
You'll find a welcoming community at Tusculum University, which ranked #4 this year. On economic diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 58.8, and gender diversity 100.0.
Visible Music College came in at #5 on this year's Most Economically Diverse Colleges ranking in Tennessee. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 69.0, with a gender-diversity score of 100.0.
Austin Peay State University earned the #6 position in Tennessee. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 63.7, and gender diversity 97.1.
Baptist Health Sciences University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 55.1, with a gender-diversity score of 46.9.
Chattanooga State Community College came in at #8 in this year's ranking. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 51.0, alongside a 95.7 gender-diversity score.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Hartsville earned the #9 position in Tennessee. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 42.5, alongside a 91.5 gender-diversity score.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Murfreesboro placed #10 among the most economically diverse colleges in Tennessee. On economic diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 61.9, with a gender-diversity score of 92.1.
Bethel University earned the #11 position in Tennessee. It scores 99.9 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 63.7, alongside a 98.6 gender-diversity score.
Fisk University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. The school's economic diversity score is 99.9 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 31.3, with a gender-diversity score of 92.1.
The University of Tennessee-Martin placed #13 among the most economically diverse colleges in Tennessee. It scores 99.7 out of 100 for economic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 38.7, with a gender-diversity score of 95.2.
Tennessee State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the most economically diverse colleges. Tennessee State University scores 99.7 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 43.2, alongside a 93.2 gender-diversity score.
Northeast State Community College earned the #15 position in Tennessee. The school's economic diversity score is 99.7 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 29.0, alongside a 99.9 gender-diversity score.
Walters State Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the most economically diverse colleges. It scores 99.7 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 31.8, and gender diversity 94.9.
Sweetwater Institute of Cosmetology earned the #17 position in Tennessee. On economic diversity, it scores 99.7 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 20.4, alongside a 19.1 gender-diversity score.
Arnolds Beauty School placed #18 among the most economically diverse colleges in Tennessee. It scores 99.7 out of 100 for economic diversity.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Shelbyville earned the #19 position in Tennessee. Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Shelbyville scores 99.7 out of 100 for economic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 41.0, and gender diversity 67.7.
Image Maker Beauty Institute came in at #20 in this year's ranking. The school's economic diversity score is 99.7 out of 100.
King University placed #21 among the most economically diverse colleges in Tennessee. It scores 99.5 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 44.4, alongside a 94.9 gender-diversity score.
Paul Mitchell the School Murfreesboro landed the #22 spot in Tennessee this year. The school's economic diversity score is 99.5 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 57.7, and gender diversity 12.2.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Pulaski placed #23 among the most economically diverse colleges in Tennessee. It scores 99.5 out of 100 for economic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 47.9, with a gender-diversity score of 79.1.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Knoxville landed the #24 spot in Tennessee this year. Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Knoxville scores 99.5 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 45.2, with a gender-diversity score of 93.4.
Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus placed #25 among the most economically diverse colleges in Tennessee. It scores 99.5 out of 100 for economic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 61.8, with a gender-diversity score of 45.2.
Not far behind, these colleges also rank among the most economically diverse this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
We measure this ranking on the economic backgrounds of the student body (the mix of income levels). The racial-ethnic minorities percentage is calculated by taking the total number of students, subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity is unknown, and dividing by total enrollment.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
See our data sources and methodologies.
