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
21

Nashville, Tennessee

21

Nashville, Tennessee

20

Athens, Tennessee

20

Greeneville, Tennessee

19

Memphis, Tennessee

19

McKenzie, Tennessee

18

Memphis, Tennessee

15

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.