by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Top Tennessee Colleges ranking is part of that endeavor.
We analyzed 45 colleges and universities across Tennessee to determine which were the best in terms of overall quality. To come up with this ranking, we look at more than 20 factors that are all objective measurements. These factors include freshman retention, graduation rate, student-to-faculty ratio, and post graduate earnings, among other things.
Since one ranking on its own is not enough to give you a complete understanding of your educational options, you can refine this list by location and field of study. We've also developed a number of other tools and rankings based on other factors. These other rankings highlight colleges that excel in other factors such as value or diversity as well as schools that excel in serving different groups of students such as veterans or returnings adults.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering!
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Vanderbilt University to be the best school for overall quality in Tennessee in this year’s ranking. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 4,734 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt is $79,872 during the early years of their career.
A rank of #2 on our Best Colleges in Tennessee list means The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. This large public school is located in Knoxville, Tennessee, and it awarded 7,694 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UT Knoxville go into careers with an average salary of $52,676 during the early years of their career.
A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges in Tennessee list means Belmont University is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree.Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,261 students in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $49,950 during the early years of their career..
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Sewanee - The University of the South. The school came in at #4 in Tennessee on this year’s overall quality ranking. Sewanee is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sewanee, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 467 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Sewanee go into careers with an average salary of $56,404 during the early years of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Adventist University. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Colleges in Tennessee list.Collegedale, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 739 students in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from Southern Adventist make an average of $48,003 a year.
Lipscomb University landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Tennessee ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 1,499 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. During the early years of their career, graduates from Lipscomb make an average of $47,554 a year.
Union University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #7. Union is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Jackson, Tennessee. It awarded 1,008 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Union make an average of $47,834 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #8, Rhodes College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Tennessee list. Rhodes College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Memphis, Tennessee that handed out 498 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Rhodes College go into careers with an average salary of $66,619 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #9, University of Memphis did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Tennessee list. UofM is a large public school situated in Memphis, Tennessee. It awarded 4,820 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UofM make an average of $43,699 per year during the early years of their career.
Carson - Newman University landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Tennessee ranking. Located in Jefferson City, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 750 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Carson - Newman is $42,546 during the early years of their career.
East Tennessee State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Tennessee ranking. Located in Johnson City, Tennessee, the fairly large public school handed out 3,735 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from ETSU is $40,733 during the early years of their career.
Middle Tennessee State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges in Tennessee list. Middle Tennessee State University is a large public school situated in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It awarded 4,731 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $44,811 during the early years of their career..
With a ranking of #13, Jackson State Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Tennessee list.Jackson, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 709 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from JSCC make an average of $32,790 per year during the early years of their career.
Lincoln Memorial University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Colleges in Tennessee list. LMU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Harrogate, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,685 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from LMU is $41,659 during the early years of their career.
Lee University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Cleveland, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 1,044 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Lee University is $40,101 during the early years of their career.
The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the fairly large public school handed out 2,624 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UT Chattanooga make an average of $43,830 per year during the early years of their career.
Bryan College - Dayton landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Tennessee ranking. William Jennings Bryan College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Dayton, Tennessee. It awarded 279 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from William Jennings Bryan College go into careers with an average salary of $46,301 during the early years of their career.
Trevecca Nazarene University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Colleges in Tennessee list.Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,323 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from TNU is $46,134 during the early years of their career.
Christian Brothers University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Tennessee ranking.Memphis, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 563 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $52,956 during the early years of their career..
Tennessee Technological University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #20. Tennessee Technological University is a medium-sized public school located in Cookeville, Tennessee that handed out 2,421 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. During the early years of their career, graduates from Tennessee Tech University make an average of $43,326 a year.
Bethel University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #21. Bethel University is a small private not-for-profit school located in McKenzie, Tennessee that handed out 792 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Bethel make an average of $40,767 per year during the early years of their career.
King University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #22.Bristol, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 749 students in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from King go into careers with an average salary of $48,892 during the early years of their career.
Chattanooga State Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Tennessee ranking. Located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,484 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Chattanooga State Community College go into careers with an average salary of $33,602 during the early years of their career.
Milligan University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Tennessee ranking. Located in Milligan, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 358 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
With a student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. During the early years of their career, graduates from Milligan make an average of $44,068 a year.
Freed-Hardeman University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Tennessee ranking. Freed-Hardeman University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Henderson, Tennessee that handed out 482 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from FHU make an average of $42,036 per year during the early years of their career.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
