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2023 Top Tennessee Men's Basketball Schools

24 Colleges
$29,097 Avg Tuition & Fees*
41% Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*

With all of the options student athletes have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Colleges for Men's Basketball in Tennessee ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

We analyzed 24 colleges and universities across Tennessee to determine which were the best for Men's Basketball athletes in Tennessee. Our ranking is based on several objective factors, including the school's overall quality and the athletic competitiveness of the school. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. So, even if a school has a great team, it won't place well if it is also considered a low quality college or university.

Find out more about our ranking methodology.

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Top Colleges in Tennessee for Men's Basketball athletes in Tennessee

See which schools came out on top of our ranking:

1
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee

Our 2023 rankings named Vanderbilt University the best school for Men’s Basketball athletes in Tennessee working on their bachelor’s degree. Vanderbilt is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Nashville, Tennessee. It awarded 2,440 bachelor’s degrees in . On the financial side of things, the Men’s Basketball team at Vanderbilt made $13,587,388 in revenue. The team has a great academic progress rate of 989, signifying that team members care about their grades. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Vanderbilt did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our overall quality list. Read full sports report on Vanderbilt University

2
Belmont crest
Belmont University
Nashville, Tennessee

Out of the 24 schools in Tennessee that were part of this year’s ranking, Belmont University landed the #2 spot on the list. 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 1,664 students in . The Men’s Basketball team at Belmont brought home $3,325,958 in revenue in a single year. Sports aren’t the only thing that the team excels at - they had a perfect academic progress rate of 1000. In addition to its Best Colleges for Men’s Basketball in Tennessee ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Belmont is ranked #5 for overall quality in Tennessee. Full Belmont University Sports Report

3

A rank of #3 on our list means The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a great place for Men’s Basketball athletes in Tennessee working on their bachelor’s degree. Knoxville, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 5,533 students in . UT Knoxville brought in $16,069,180 while tallying up $14,365,527 in expenses for its Men’s Basketball team. So, the team made money for the school, bringing in $1,703,653 in profit. The academic progress rate of the team is 974. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. UT Knoxville not only placed well in this ranking, but it is also #4 on our overall quality list. Full The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Sports Report

4
Middle Tennessee State University crest
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

The excellent sports programs at Middle Tennessee State University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools for Men’s Basketball athletes in Tennessee. Murfreesboro, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 3,709 students in . Speaking financially, the Men’s Basketball team at Middle Tennessee State University took home $3,269,442 in revenue. The academic progress rate of the team is 957. Read full sports report on Middle Tennessee State University

5
Lipscomb crest
Lipscomb University
Nashville, Tennessee

A rank of #5 on our list means Lipscomb University is a great place for Men’s Basketball athletes in Tennessee working on their bachelor’s degree. Lipscomb is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In , this school awarded 711 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates. On the financial side of things, the Men’s Basketball team at Lipscomb made $2,053,998 in revenue. The great academic progress rate of 986 shows that team members perform well in the classroom, too. As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Lipscomb also is in the top 20% of our overall quality ranking. Full Lipscomb University Sports Report

6
UofM crest
University of Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee

University of Memphis landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for Men’s Basketball in Tennessee ranking. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, the large public school awarded 3,132 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in . On the financial side of things, the Men’s Basketball team at UofM made $13,735,823 in revenue. The academic progress rate of the team is 968. Read full sports report on University of Memphis

7
Rhodes College crest
Rhodes College
Memphis, Tennessee

Rhodes College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Men’s Basketball 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 538 students in . The Men’s Basketball team at Rhodes College made $299,807 in revenue, while incurring $291,659 in expenses. Thus, the team actually made $8,148, which isn’t bad at all. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Rhodes College did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our overall quality list. Full Rhodes College Sports Report

8
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Lincoln Memorial University
Harrogate, Tennessee

With a ranking of #8, Lincoln Memorial University did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges for Men’s Basketball in Tennessee ranking. Harrogate, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 330 students in . The team at LMU took home $891,314 in revenue and paid out $890,622 in expenses in recent times. So, the team made money for the school, bringing in $692 in profit. Read full sports report on Lincoln Memorial University

9

Sewanee - The University of the South did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges for Men’s Basketball in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #9. Sewanee, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 429 students in . Speaking financially, the Men’s Basketball team at Sewanee took home $198,600 in revenue. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Sewanee did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our overall quality list. Full Sewanee - The University of the South Sports Report

10
Union crest
Union University
Jackson, Tennessee

Union University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Colleges for Men’s Basketball in Tennessee list. Jackson, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 540 students in . The team at Union took home $706,949 in revenue and paid out $705,934 in expenses in recent times. That boils down to a yearly profit of $1,015 for the sports team. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. In addition to its great ranking here, Union is in the top 15% of all schools on our overall quality list. Read full sports report on Union University

11

The University of Tennessee - Martin came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Men’s Basketball in Tennessee ranking. UT Martin is a public institution located in Martin, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,059 bachelor’s degrees in . The Men’s Basketball team at UT Martin made $1,432,379 in revenue, while incurring $1,387,544 in expenses. Thus, the team actually made $44,835, which isn’t bad at all. The academic progress rate of the team is 973. Read More…

12

The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for Men’s Basketball in Tennessee ranking. UT Chattanooga is a fairly large public school situated in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It awarded 2,039 bachelor’s degrees in . On the financial side of things, the Men’s Basketball team at UT Chattanooga made $2,100,756 in revenue. The academic progress rate of the team is 938. Full The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga Sports Report

13

Tennessee Technological University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Colleges for Men’s Basketball in Tennessee list. Located in Cookeville, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,970 bachelor’s degrees in . The Men’s Basketball team at Tennessee Tech University brought home $1,482,798 in revenue in a single year. The academic progress rate of the team is 950. Read More…

14
Maryville College crest
Maryville College
Maryville, Tennessee

With a ranking of #14, Maryville College did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges for Men’s Basketball in Tennessee ranking. Maryville College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Maryville, Tennessee that handed out 190 bachelor’s degrees in . On the financial side of things, the Men’s Basketball team at Maryville College made $178,388 in revenue. Full Maryville College Sports Report

15
Christian Brothers crest
Christian Brothers University
Memphis, Tennessee

Christian Brothers University did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges for Men’s Basketball in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #15. Christian Brothers is a private not-for-profit institution located in Memphis, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 411 bachelor’s degrees in . The Men’s Basketball team at Christian Brothers made $642,744 in revenue, while incurring $637,743 in expenses. Thus, the team actually made $5,001, which isn’t bad at all. Read More…

16
Tennessee State University crest
Tennessee State University
Nashville, Tennessee

With a ranking of #16, Tennessee State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges for Men’s Basketball in Tennessee ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 795 bachelor’s degrees in . The Men’s Basketball team at Tennessee State University brought home $1,420,251 in revenue in a single year. The team has a respectable academic progress rate of 955. Read full sports report on Tennessee State University

17
Austin Peay State University crest
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, Tennessee

Austin Peay State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges for Men’s Basketball in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #17. This medium-sized public school is located in Clarksville, Tennessee, and it awarded 1,568 bachelor’s degrees in . The Men’s Basketball team at Austin Peay State University made $2,093,118 in revenue, while incurring $1,639,643 in expenses. Happily, this means that the team turned a profit of $453,475. The academic progress rate of the team is 946. Read full sports report on Austin Peay State University

18
Lee University crest
Lee University
Cleveland, Tennessee

Lee University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for Men’s Basketball in Tennessee ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Cleveland, Tennessee, and it awarded 933 bachelor’s degrees in . On the financial side of things, the Men’s Basketball team at Lee University made $671,301 in revenue. Read full sports report on Lee University

19
Carson - Newman crest
Carson - Newman University
Jefferson City, Tennessee

Carson - Newman University did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges for Men’s Basketball in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #19. Carson - Newman is located in Jefferson City, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In , this school awarded 386 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates. Carson - Newman brought in $723,054 while tallying up $611,290 in expenses for its Men’s Basketball team. Happily, this means that the team turned a profit of $111,764. Full Carson - Newman University Sports Report

20
King crest
King University
Bristol, Tennessee

King University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Men’s Basketball in Tennessee ranking. King is located in Bristol, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In , this school awarded 469 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates. The team at King took home $554,921 in revenue and paid out $550,603 in expenses in recent times. So, the team made money for the school, bringing in $4,318 in profit. Read full sports report on King University

21
TNU crest
Trevecca Nazarene University
Nashville, Tennessee

Trevecca Nazarene University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for Men’s Basketball in Tennessee ranking. TNU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 419 bachelor’s degrees in . The team at TNU took home $668,328 in revenue and paid out $668,026 in expenses in recent times. Thus, the team actually made $302, which isn’t bad at all. Read full sports report on Trevecca Nazarene University

22
Lane College crest
Lane College
Jackson, Tennessee

Lane College landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for Men’s Basketball in Tennessee ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Jackson, Tennessee, and it awarded 105 bachelor’s degrees in . The Men’s Basketball team at Lane College brought home $425,069 in revenue in a single year. Read full sports report on Lane College

23
Tusculum crest
Tusculum University
Greeneville, Tennessee

Tusculum University did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges for Men’s Basketball in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #23. Tusculum is a private not-for-profit institution located in Greeneville, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 228 bachelor’s degrees in . The team at Tusculum took home $468,470 in revenue and paid out $459,728 in expenses in recent times. So, the team made money for the school, bringing in $8,742 in profit. Read More…

24
Le Moyne - Owen College crest
Le Moyne - Owen College
Memphis, Tennessee

Le Moyne - Owen College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for Men’s Basketball in Tennessee ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Memphis, Tennessee, and it awarded 118 bachelor’s degrees in . The Men’s Basketball team at Le Moyne - Owen College brought home $464,547 in revenue in a single year. Read More…

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*Avg Tuition and Fees and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top 24 schools only.

References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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