Best Tennessee Colleges
There are 65 colleges and universities in Tennessee enrolling 312,151 students. Explore the list of top colleges in Tennessee below to begin your college search. The CollegeSimply rankings are objective and data-driven in order to help you find good matches for you. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page. Whether you're searching for a good public, private or community college, this guide to universities in Tennessee offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.
Tennessee is home to nationally ranked institutions like Vanderbilt University, The University of the South, Rhodes College and Union University. The highest ranked college in Tennessee is Vanderbilt University and the top rated public state college is The University of Tennessee Knoxville.
Local college options can be explored in Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga or other cities.
List of the Best Tennessee Colleges
Lee University
- Private 4 Year
- Cleveland, TN
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| 0 reviews
Lee is a private Christian university known for undergraduate music and education. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in Cleveland, Tennessee.
- SAT Range 1040-1230
- Avg GPA 3.73
- Acceptance Rate 71%
- Net Price $20,416
The University of Tennessee Chattanooga
- Public 4 Year
- Chattanooga, TN
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5.0 | 1 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
UTC is a public university known for undergraduate engineering, business, and nursing. The urban campus borders the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga.
- SAT Range 1013-1210
- Avg GPA 3.61
- Acceptance Rate 81%
- Net Price $15,347
The University of Tennessee Martin
- Public 4 Year
- Martin, TN
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5.0 | 1 reviews
UT Martin is a public university known for undergraduate agriculture, education, and business. The residential campus is in the small college town of Martin in northwest Tennessee.
- SAT Range 970-1210
- Avg GPA 3.6
- Acceptance Rate 88%
- Net Price $11,955
Carson Newman University
- Private 4 Year
- Jefferson City, TN
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4.0 | 1 reviews
Carson-Newman is a private Baptist university with undergraduate strengths in nursing, education, and the liberal arts. Students live on a residential campus in the small East Tennessee town of Jefferson City.
- SAT Range 955-1215
- Avg GPA 3.6
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $20,895
University of Memphis
- Public 4 Year
- Memphis, TN
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5.0 | 1 reviews
- Jul 1 application deadline
University of Memphis is a large public university known for undergraduate music, business, and journalism. The urban campus is in Midtown Memphis.
- SAT Range 915-1180
- Avg GPA 3.48
- Acceptance Rate 72%
- Net Price $12,756
The University of Tennessee Southern
- Private 4 Year
- Pulaski, TN
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 26 application deadline
UT Southern is a small public university with undergraduate programs in nursing, education, and business. The campus sits in the small town of Pulaski in southern Tennessee.
- SAT Range 905-1110
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.17
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $14,546
Austin Peay State University
- Public 4 Year
- Clarksville, TN
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 4 application deadline
Austin Peay is a public university known for undergraduate education and nursing. The Clarksville campus is close to Fort Campbell and draws many military-connected students.
- SAT Range 843-1126
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $9,882
Bethel University
- Private 4 Year
- McKenzie, TN
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| 0 reviews
Bethel is a private Christian university affiliated with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, known for undergraduate business and education programs. The campus is set in the small town of McKenzie in western Tennessee.
- SAT Range 830-1120
- Avg GPA 3.6
- Acceptance Rate 60%
- Net Price $13,112
Tennessee State University
- Public 4 Year
- Nashville, TN
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| 0 reviews
Tennessee State is a public HBCU known for undergraduate nursing, business, and engineering. The urban campus is in Nashville.
- SAT Range 880-1050
- Avg GPA 3.22
- Acceptance Rate 70%
- Net Price $14,586
Tusculum University
- Private 4 Year
- Greeneville, TN
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| 0 reviews
Tusculum is a small private university with undergraduate programs in business, education, and nursing. The historic Greeneville campus is Tennessee's oldest college and retains a Presbyterian affiliation.
- SAT Range 910-1110
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.18
- Acceptance Rate 72%
- Net Price $20,355
King University
- Private 4 Year
- Bristol, TN
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| 0 reviews
King is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing and business. The campus is in Bristol on the Tennessee-Virginia border.
- SAT Range 1000-1160
- Avg GPA 3.46
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $22,748
American Baptist College
- Private 4 Year
- Nashville, TN
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| 0 reviews
American Baptist College is a small private HBCU known for undergraduate theology and ministry. Students study on a compact Nashville campus with deep roots in Baptist tradition.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $8,340
Baptist Health Sciences University
- Private 4 Year
- Memphis, TN
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| 0 reviews
- Jun 1 application deadline
Baptist Health Sciences is a private university known for undergraduate nursing and allied health programs. The urban Memphis campus is affiliated with Baptist Memorial Health Care.
- SAT Range 990-1090
- Avg GPA 3.21
- Acceptance Rate 82%
- Net Price $11,348
Bryan College Dayton
- Private 4 Year
- Dayton, TN
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| 0 reviews
Bryan is a private Christian college known for undergraduate biblical studies, education, and business. Most undergrads live on a residential campus in the small town of Dayton in eastern Tennessee.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.67
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $18,159
Chattanooga State Community College
- Public 2 Year
- Chattanooga, TN
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| 0 reviews
Chattanooga State is a public community college known for associate programs in nursing and engineering technology. The campus lies along the Tennessee River.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.0
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $5,908
Pentecostal Theological Seminary
- Private 4 Year
- Cleveland, TN
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| 0 reviews
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price -
Cleveland State Community College
- Public 2 Year
- Cleveland, TN
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 17 application deadline
A public community college known for undergraduate nursing and industrial technology programs. The campus is in Cleveland, a midsize city in southeastern Tennessee near Chattanooga.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.29
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $7,236
Columbia State Community College
- Public 2 Year
- Columbia, TN
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 13 application deadline
Columbia State is a public community college known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences programs. The main campus sits in Columbia, a small city in middle Tennessee.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $6,193