by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking for a college that has your back, you’ve come to the right place. The ranking below was designed to help you find 129 colleges ranked on how well they support veterans in Tennessee, using our 2026 methodology.
This ranking is based on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits, academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. To help you decide, College Factual analyzed 129 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Not every veteran weighs these factors the same way. Refine the list by location, or explore our other rankings below.
Ready to build your own comparison? We built a tool called College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Explore the leading colleges for veterans below:
Our analysis found Middle Tennessee State University to be the #1 college for veterans in Tennessee. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 81.2 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
A rank of #2 makes Belmont University one of the best colleges for veterans in Tennessee. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 80.7 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 65.6, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Jackson State Community College came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Tennessee. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 75.9 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Veteran and military students will find strong support at Tennessee Technological University, which ranked #4 this year. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 75.1 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Veteran and military students will find strong support at North Central Institute, which ranked #5 this year. North Central Institute scores 74.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
Trevecca Nazarene University placed #6 among the best colleges for veterans in Tennessee. It scores 74.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 91.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
South College landed the #7 spot in Tennessee this year. It scores 73.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Chattanooga State Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 73.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Maryville College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 73.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 70.4, and veteran resources 66.7.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville earned the #10 position in Tennessee. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville scores 73.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Lincoln Memorial University placed #11 among the best colleges for veterans in Tennessee. Lincoln Memorial University scores 72.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Le Moyne-Owen College earned the #12 position in Tennessee. Le Moyne-Owen College scores 72.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
University of Memphis earned the #13 position in Tennessee. University of Memphis scores 71.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Lipscomb University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Lipscomb University scores 71.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 69.8, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Austin Peay State University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 71.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
Carson-Newman University landed the #16 spot in Tennessee this year. The school's overall veterans score is 71.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 78.2, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Livingston came in at #17 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 70.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Crossville placed #18 among the best colleges for veterans in Tennessee. Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Crossville scores 70.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Volunteer State Community College placed #19 among the best colleges for veterans in Tennessee. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 70.2 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Tennessee State University earned the #20 position in Tennessee. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 69.9 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Morristown ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. It scores 69.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga placed #22 among the best colleges for veterans in Tennessee. The school's overall veterans score is 69.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Jackson earned the #23 position in Tennessee. Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Jackson scores 69.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Baptist Health Sciences University earned the #24 position in Tennessee. The school's overall veterans score is 68.9 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Southern Adventist University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. It scores 68.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
These colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits, academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
