2025 Tennessee Colleges Graduation Rate Comparison
For the academic year 2023-2024, the average graduation rate at Tennessee colleges is 59.5%. The graduation rate is calculated by number of completers by dividing number of candidates. The completers have completed their degree/certificate within 150% of normal time, for example within 6 years for 4-years BS degree program. The average transfer-out rate is 12.1% and the average retention rate is 71.6% (full-time students).
Tennessee College Graduation, Transfer-out, Retention Rate Statistics
The next list shows the colleges with the highest and lowest graduation rate and more relative statistics. For that, we include only 4-year colleges and having more than 500 enrolled students.
- Vanderbilt University has the highest graduation rate of 94% and Lane College has the lowest graduation rate of 18% and .
- Baptist Health Sciences University has the highest transfer-out rate of 37% and King University has the lowest transfer-out rate of 1% and .
- Vanderbilt University has the highest retention rate of 96% and Tennessee State University has the lowest retention rate of 33% and .
Graduation Rate Comparison Between Tennessee Colleges
The following table lists Tennessee colleges with graduation, transfer-out, and retention rate. The graduation rate is based on the number of completers who completed their program within 150% normal time (i.e. within 6 years for 4 years B.S. degrees).
You can sort the table by column by clicking/touching column titles and narrow down the college list by using the buttons below.
| College Name | Graduation Rate | Transfer-out Rate | Retention Rate (full-time) | Retention Rate (part-time) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Baptist College Nashville, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 39% | 39% | 100% | - |
| Arnolds Beauty School Milan, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 77% | - | 86% | - |
| TCAT Athens Athens, TN Public, 2-4 years | 95% | 4% | 78% | - |
| Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TN Public, 4 years four-years | 40% | - | 70% | 34 |
| Baptist Health Sciences University Memphis, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 40% | 37% | 53% | 75 |
| Belmont University Nashville, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 71% | - | 87% | 57 |
| Bethel University McKenzie, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 35% | - | 54% | 10 |
| Bryan College-Dayton Dayton, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 50% | - | 71% | - |
| Carson-Newman University Jefferson City, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 53% | 5% | 74% | - |
| Chattanooga State Community College Chattanooga, TN Public, 2-4 years | 26% | 14% | 57% | 27 |
| Christian Brothers University Memphis, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 55% | 25% | 75% | - |
| Austin's Beauty College Inc Clarksville, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 68% | - | 75% | - |
| Cleveland State Community College Cleveland, TN Public, 2-4 years | 37% | 12% | 52% | 40 |
| Columbia State Community College Columbia, TN Public, 2-4 years | 30% | 17% | 55% | 40 |
| Concorde Career College-Memphis Memphis, TN Private, 2-4 years | 55% | - | 67% | - |
| Cumberland University Lebanon, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 46% | 14% | 59% | 100 |
| Lipscomb University Nashville, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 72% | - | 84% | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Dickson Dickson, TN Public, 2-4 years | 74% | 2% | 74% | 60 |
| Dyersburg State Community College Dyersburg, TN Public, 2-4 years | 34% | 12% | 63% | 46 |
| East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TN Public, 4 years four-years | 53% | 22% | 76% | 62 |
| Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers Chattanooga, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 12% | - | 31% | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton Elizabethton, TN Public, 2-4 years | 81% | 2% | 80% | 67 |
| The Hair Academy LLC Fayetteville, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 85% | 15% | 82% | 81 |
| Fisk University Nashville, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 30% | - | 74% | 50 |
| Welch College Gallatin, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 53% | 15% | 61% | 67 |
| Freed-Hardeman University Henderson, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 71% | - | 86% | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Harriman Harriman, TN Public, 2-4 years | 69% | 2% | 79% | 25 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville Hartsville, TN Public, 2-4 years | 82% | 2% | 91% | 64 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hohenwald Hohenwald, TN Public, 2-4 years | 65% | - | 79% | 50 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jacksboro Jacksboro, TN Public, 2-4 years | 84% | - | 98% | - |
| Jackson State Community College Jackson, TN Public, 2-4 years | 26% | 13% | 54% | 26 |
| John A Gupton College Nashville, TN Private, 2-4 years | 38% | 8% | 69% | - |
| Johnson University Knoxville, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 57% | 12% | 69% | 18 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro Murfreesboro, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 75% | 2% | 77% | 80 |
| King University Bristol, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 48% | 1% | 60% | 33 |
| South College Knoxville, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 42% | 21% | 52% | 100 |
| Lane College Jackson, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 18% | 26% | 44% | - |
| Le Moyne-Owen College Memphis, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 27% | - | 47% | 11 |
| Lee University Cleveland, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 63% | 24% | 82% | 17 |
| Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 50% | - | 72% | 60 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston Livingston, TN Public, 2-4 years | 78% | 2% | 81% | 100 |
| The University of Tennessee Southern Pulaski, TN Public, 4 years four-years | 37% | 31% | 77% | - |
| Maryville College Maryville, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 50% | 15% | 71% | - |
| Genesis Career College-Cookeville Cookeville, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 54% | - | 63% | 45 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis Memphis, TN Public, 2-4 years | 55% | 2% | 62% | 53 |
| University of Memphis Memphis, TN Public, 4 years four-years | 51% | 14% | 77% | 50 |
| Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN Public, 4 years four-years | 54% | 23% | 80% | 60 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Morristown Morristown, TN Public, 2-4 years | 80% | 2% | 76% | 33 |
| Motlow State Community College Tullahoma, TN Public, 2-4 years | 34% | 14% | 55% | 46 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro Murfreesboro, TN Public, 2-4 years | 76% | 2% | 79% | 61 |
| Nashville Auto-Diesel College Nashville, TN Private, 2-4 years | 68% | - | 73% | - |
| Nashville State Community College Nashville, TN Public, 2-4 years | 18% | 15% | 44% | 47 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest Newbern, TN Public, 2-4 years | 69% | 7% | 64% | 32 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Henry/Carroll Paris, TN Public, 2-4 years | 75% | - | 77% | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski Pulaski, TN Public, 2-4 years | 75% | 1% | 89% | 65 |
| Rhodes College Memphis, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 85% | 14% | 92% | 100 |
| Roane State Community College Harriman, TN Public, 2-4 years | 36% | 14% | 58% | 50 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology Crump Crump, TN Public, 2-4 years | 63% | 3% | 74% | 50 |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College Memphis, TN Public, 2-4 years | 19% | 16% | 46% | 19 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville Shelbyville, TN Public, 2-4 years | 81% | 1% | 100% | 85 |
| The University of the South Sewanee, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 80% | 18% | 89% | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Oneida-Huntsville Huntsville, TN Public, 2-4 years | 74% | 1% | 77% | 75 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Upper Cumberland Crossville, TN Public, 2-4 years | 84% | - | 71% | 100 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnville McMinnville, TN Public, 2-4 years | 67% | 4% | 84% | 80 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson Jackson, TN Public, 2-4 years | 80% | 2% | 82% | 100 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville Knoxville, TN Public, 2-4 years | 71% | 3% | 66% | 100 |
| Pellissippi State Community College Knoxville, TN Public, 2-4 years | 31% | 22% | 58% | 55 |
| Southern Adventist University Collegedale, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 49% | 1% | 83% | 60 |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University Athens, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 48% | 33% | 72% | - |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN Public, 4 years four-years | 50% | - | 73% | 41 |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TN Public, 4 years four-years | 74% | 16% | 92% | 80 |
| The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin, TN Public, 4 years four-years | 53% | 18% | 77% | 75 |
| Tennessee School of Beauty of Knoxville Inc Knoxville, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 82% | - | 55% | - |
| Tennessee State University Nashville, TN Public, 4 years four-years | 34% | 2% | 33% | 25 |
| Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TN Public, 4 years four-years | 58% | 20% | 78% | 50 |
| Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 53% | - | 74% | - |
| Northeast State Community College Blountville, TN Public, 2-4 years | 33% | 9% | 59% | 51 |
| Tusculum University Greeneville, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 25% | 13% | 63% | 40 |
| Union University Jackson, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 66% | 23% | 89% | 53 |
| Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 94% | - | 96% | 100 |
| Volunteer State Community College Gallatin, TN Public, 2-4 years | 28% | 14% | 51% | 37 |
| Walters State Community College Morristown, TN Public, 2-4 years | 33% | 11% | 53% | 52 |
| William R Moore College of Technology Memphis, TN Private, 2-4 years | 50% | - | 55% | 42 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Knoxville Powder Springs, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 44% | - | 50% | 100 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville Nashville, TN Public, 2-4 years | 70% | 2% | 85% | 65 |
| Nossi College of Art and Design Nashville, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 42% | - | 88% | - |
| Mr Wayne's School of Unisex Hair Design Cookeville, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 74% | - | 91% | 100 |
| Genesis Career College-Lebanon Lebanon, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 59% | - | 63% | - |
| Brillare Beauty Institute Cleveland, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 84% | - | 91% | - |
| Remington College-Memphis Campus Memphis, TN Private, 2-4 years | 38% | - | 40% | - |
| North Central Institute Clarksville, TN Private, 2-4 years | 100% | - | 100% | - |
| Williamson Christian College Franklin, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 67% | 33% | 50% | - |
| Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 60% | - | - | - |
| Lawrenceburg Technical College Lawrenceburg, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 49% | 3% | 70% | 73 |
| Remington College-Nashville Campus Nashville, TN Private, 2-4 years | 47% | - | 59% | - |
| SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville Nashville, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 42% | - | - | - |
| Visible Music College Memphis, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 23% | 6% | 67% | - |
| Elite College of Cosmetology Lexington, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 79% | - | 83% | 33 |
| TC Beauty Johnson City, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 88% | 6% | 91% | - |
| Fortis Institute-Nashville Nashville, TN Private, 2-4 years | 43% | - | 43% | - |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Memphis Memphis, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 59% | - | 77% | 100 |
| Love Beauty School Inc Manchester, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 74% | - | 98% | 100 |
| Empire Beauty School-E Memphis Memphis, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 67% | - | 51% | 47 |
| Empire Beauty School-Nashville Brentwood, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 72% | - | 81% | 50 |
| Empire Beauty School-Jackson Jackson, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 41% | - | 77% | - |
| Mid-South Christian College Memphis, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 60% | - | 25% | - |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Nashville Nashville, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 97% | - | 86% | - |
| Franklin Hair Academy School of Cosmetology Franklin, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 86% | - | 80% | 100 |
| Vibe Barber College Memphis, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 89% | - | 88% | - |
| Mind Body Institute Madison, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 75% | - | - | - |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Johnson City Johnson City, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 64% | - | 60% | - |
| Sandra Academy of Salon Services New Tazewell, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 33% | - | 1% | - |
| Gould's Academy Memphis, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 80% | 1% | 88% | - |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Knoxville Knoxville, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 68% | - | 56% | - |
| Milligan University Milligan, TN Private, 4 years four-years | 63% | 27% | 82% | - |
| Image Maker Beauty Institute Hendersonville, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 77% | - | 67% | - |
| Nashville Film Institute Nashville, TN Private, 2-4 years | 86% | - | 77% | - |
| Allied Health Careers Institute Murfreesboro, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 100% | - | 36% | - |
| Master's Barber & Styling College Old Hickory, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 50% | - | 70% | - |
| EduMed Partners Goodlettsville, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 80% | - | - | - |
| Massage Institute of Memphis Memphis, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 100% | - | - | - |
| Gould's Academy Bartlett, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 84% | - | 93% | - |
| Health-Tech Institute of Memphis Memphis, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 80% | - | 100% | - |
| Fortis Institute-Cookeville Cookeville, TN Private, 2-4 years | 50% | - | 72% | - |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro-Nashville Hendersonville, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 74% | 3% | 79% | 83 |
| Academy of Allied Health Careers Chattanooga, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 65% | - | - | - |
| Sweetwater Institute of Cosmetology Sweetwater, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 78% | - | 95% | - |
| Studio 75 Hair Academy Millington, TN Private, Less than 2 years | 54% | 8% | 100% | 83 |
| Average | 60% | 12% | 72% | 59 |
Most Compared Tennessee Colleges
The following Tennessee college pairs are frequently compared by users. You can compare the schools by their most important academic factors such as acceptance rate and tuition.