Best Tennessee Colleges
Tennessee has 29 ranked four-year colleges, part of our national best colleges ranking. Rankings weigh admission scores, graduation rates, and selectivity using statistical data, not editorial picks.
Leading our 2027 rankings is Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, topping our list in Tennessee. The top rated public university is The University of Tennessee Knoxville. Also highly ranked: The University of the South, Rhodes College and Union University.
Compare tuition, acceptance rates, and enrollment across the colleges below. See how rankings are calculated on our methodology page. Sort by tuition, acceptance rate, or enrollment to find the school that fits you.
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