Tennessee Private Colleges Ranked by Highest ACT Score

Below is a list of the 26 private colleges in Tennessee with the highest ACT Score for incoming freshmen. Vanderbilt University leads the list with an average ACT Score of 34. Alternatively, check out the SAT version of these rankings.

The ACT is a standardized test used by colleges to evaluate applicants. It is not a guarantee of success in college, but it is a strong indicator of academic potential.

List of Tennessee Private Colleges Ranked by Highest ACT Score
College Average ACT Score

Nashville, Tennessee

 34

Memphis, Tennessee

 29

Sewanee, Tennessee

 29

Nashville, Tennessee

 27

Nashville, Tennessee

 26

Jackson, Tennessee

 26

Maryville, Tennessee

 24

Milligan, Tennessee

 24

Cleveland, Tennessee

 23

Jefferson City, Tennessee

 22

Henderson, Tennessee

 22

Collegedale, Tennessee

 22

Memphis, Tennessee

 21

Memphis, Tennessee

 21

Nashville, Tennessee

 21

Knoxville, Tennessee

 21

Bristol, Tennessee

 21

Harrogate, Tennessee

 21
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This list is updated annually based on the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Last updated: March 15, 2026

Data source: IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025 - National Center for Education Statistics.