2021 Tennessee Best College Rankings
At a Glance
Vanderbilt University ranked first and The University of Tennessee-Knoxville ranked second in Tennessee college rankings. The 2020 average tuition & fees of the Tennessee best colleges is $21,480 for Tennessee residents and $26,229 for out-of-state students. The average acceptance rate is 70.89% and the average SAT score is 1,144. The average number of student population is 6,664 and the average student to faculty ratio is 14 to 1.
Below statements summarize the average statistics of tuition, admission, and more academic factors for Tennessee best colleges. For the statistics, we only include 4 years colleges such as national universities and liberal arts colleges.
- The average undergraduate tuition & fees is $26,229 and Vanderbilt University has the highest tuition & fees of $54,158 and Huntington University of Health Sciences has the lowest tuition & fees of $6,610.
- The average graduate tuition & fees is $18,205 and Rhodes College has the highest tuition & fees of $50,910 and Cumberland University has the lowest tuition & fees of $7,020.
- The average SAT score is 1,144 and Vanderbilt University has the highest SAT score of 1,510 and Cumberland University has the lowest score of 1,005.
- The average acceptance rate is 70.89% and Vanderbilt University has the tightest (lowest) rate of 9% and Milligan University has the loosest (lowest) rate of 99%.
- The average student population is 6,664 and The University of Tennessee-Knoxville has the most students of 28,894 and Huntington University of Health Sciences has the fewest students of 134.
- The average graduation rate is 55.43% and Vanderbilt University has the highest rate of 93% and Lane College has the lowest rate of 22%.
Tennessee Best Colleges Comparison Table
| Rank | College Name | Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | Graduate Tuition & Fees | SAT Score | Acceptance Rate | Population | Graduation Rate | Student to Faculty Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN | $54,158 | $50,624 | 1,510 | 9.00% | 12,824 | 93% | 7 to 1 |
| 2 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TN | $30,684 | $31,798 | 1,240 | 79.00% | 28,894 | 72% | 17 to 1 |
| 3 | Rhodes College Memphis, TN | $50,910 | $50,910 | 1,325 | 45.00% | 2,036 | 80% | 10 to 1 |
| 4 | Union University Jackson, TN | $22,930 | $10,671 | 1,170 | 53.00% | 3,247 | 68% | 10 to 1 |
| 5 | Lipscomb University Nashville, TN | $34,744 | $18,000 | 1,185 | 63.00% | 4,620 | 68% | 13 to 1 |
| 6 | Freed-Hardeman University Henderson, TN | $22,950 | $10,980 | 1,130 | 88.00% | 2,037 | 58% | 13 to 1 |
| 7 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN | $25,774 | $18,334 | 1,130 | 82.00% | 11,638 | 48% | 19 to 1 |
| 8 | Bryan College-Dayton Dayton, TN | $17,050 | $9,760 | 1,118 | 51.00% | 1,363 | 45% | 12 to 1 |
| 9 | Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville, TN | $26,898 | $9,282 | 1,179 | 62.00% | 3,927 | 56% | 20 to 1 |
| 10 | Belmont University Nashville, TN | $37,030 | $24,260 | 1,225 | 84.00% | 8,260 | 72% | 14 to 1 |
| 11 | Christian Brothers University Memphis, TN | $34,880 | $13,547 | - | 50.00% | 2,034 | 61% | 12 to 1 |
| 12 | Cumberland University Lebanon, TN | $25,386 | $7,020 | 1,005 | 61.00% | 2,405 | 43% | 17 to 1 |
| 13 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TN | $19,668 | $20,498 | 1,125 | 79.00% | 10,186 | 54% | 18 to 1 |
| 14 | Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate, TN | $23,490 | $21,155 | 1,100 | 50.00% | 4,798 | 55% | 14 to 1 |
| 15 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN | $27,742 | $26,172 | 1,135 | 94.00% | 21,631 | 47% | 17 to 1 |
| 16 | King University Bristol, TN | $31,840 | $19,500 | 1,098 | 62.00% | 1,948 | 59% | 12 to 1 |
| 17 | University of Memphis Memphis, TN | $13,752 | $14,202 | 1,120 | 85.00% | 21,458 | 53% | 15 to 1 |
| 18 | Milligan University Milligan, TN | $35,600 | $9,555 | 1,179 | 99.00% | 1,225 | 63% | 9 to 1 |
| 19 | The University of the South Sewanee, TN | $47,232 | $18,243 | 1,245 | 67.00% | 1,785 | 79% | 10 to 1 |
| 20 | Fisk University Nashville, TN | $22,132 | $22,132 | 1,040 | 93.00% | 780 | 50% | 12 to 1 |
| 21 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TN | $13,847 | $14,669 | 1,065 | 95.00% | 10,954 | 43% | 18 to 1 |
| 22 | Carson-Newman University Jefferson City, TN | $29,500 | $9,587 | 1,051 | 69.00% | 2,560 | 57% | 13 to 1 |
| 23 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TN | $27,406 | $25,679 | 1,075 | 86.00% | 14,317 | 50% | 16 to 1 |
| 24 | Lee University Cleveland, TN | $19,540 | $14,330 | 1,070 | 82.00% | 5,386 | 60% | 16 to 1 |
| 25 | The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin, TN | $15,788 | $16,656 | - | 64.00% | 7,048 | 47% | 15 to 1 |
| 26 | Tusculum University Greeneville, TN | $25,500 | $7,200 | 1,051 | 72.00% | 1,735 | 41% | 16 to 1 |
| 27 | Bethel University McKenzie, TN | $13,611 | $11,382 | 1,024 | 90.00% | 5,407 | 32% | 17 to 1 |
| 29 | Tennessee State University Nashville, TN | $21,732 | $20,860 | - | - | 7,774 | 32% | 12 to 1 |
| 30 | Southern Adventist University Collegedale, TN | $22,930 | $11,700 | - | - | 2,942 | 55% | 13 to 1 |
| 31 | Lane College Jackson, TN | $11,790 | - | - | - | 1,232 | 22% | 18 to 1 |
| 32 | Huntington University of Health Sciences Knoxville, TN | $6,610 | $7,450 | - | - | 134 | - | 8 to 1 |
| Average | $26,229 | $18,205 | 1,144 | 70.89% | 6,664 | 55% | 14 to 1 |