Colleges in Tennessee
This page aggregates every Title IV–eligible college and university with a primary campus in Tennessee, drawing from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, IPEDS institutional reports, and de-identified IRS earnings linkage for federal-aid recipients. Coverage includes public flagships, regional comprehensives, community and technical colleges, private nonprofit institutions, and for-profit schools.
The state-aggregate statistics below include all reporting institutions in Tennessee as a single denominator — community colleges, public universities, private nonprofits, and for-profit institutions are pooled. State averages are therefore useful for high-level framing (in-state tuition is X, average admission rate is Y, average earnings are Z) but should not be read as representative of any specific sector or institution. Drill into individual school profiles for the full picture: admissions, costs (sticker and net), federal-aid usage, completion, retention, demographics, and earnings outcomes 6 and 10 years after enrollment.
The most-recent Scorecard release is from September 2024. Tuition figures reflect institutional reports for the 2022–23 academic year and may differ from current-year prices. Earnings data has an inherent lag — the 10-year earnings horizon reflects students who enrolled approximately a decade prior to the data publication, as the IRS-matching process requires time to accumulate post-enrollment income.
Largest Colleges in Tennessee by Enrollment
Highest Earnings 10-Year Median — Tennessee
What the IPEDS Data Shows for Colleges in Tennessee
Tennessee has 144 Title IV-participating postsecondary institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the federal directory that captures every college eligible to award federal student aid. The ownership mix is 48 public institutions, 0 private nonprofits, and 0 private for-profit schools — a structural split that drives most of the tuition variation visible in the table below. Public institutions typically report substantially lower in-state tuition because state appropriations subsidize the published price, while private nonprofits often show higher sticker prices that are partially offset by institutional aid.
Cost and selectivity signals vary widely even within a single state. The average in-state tuition across Tennessee institutions is $19,138, and the average admission rate (weighted by institutions that report one) sits at 72.5%. Admission rates from IPEDS exclude open-enrollment institutions, which is why community colleges and many for-profits show as unreported rather than at 100 percent. Looking at the table, the acceptance-rate column is blank for schools that don’t screen applicants, a meaningful distinction when evaluating selectivity alongside earnings.
Post-graduation outcomes tie cost to return. Graduates of Tennessee colleges earn a mean of $40,718 ten years after enrollment, based on U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal aid applicants through the College Scorecard data file. Because earnings depend heavily on field of study and local labor markets, state-level averages should be read alongside each school’s program mix. The table sorts every institution with reported IPEDS enrollment so prospective students can compare acceptance rates, enrollment scale, and median earnings side by side rather than relying on third-party rankings.
All Schools in Tennessee
| School Name | City | Type | Enrollment | Acceptance Rate | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | Knoxville | Public | 30,418 | 41.6% | $60,249 |
| Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro | Public | 16,301 | 69.1% | $48,541 |
| University of Memphis | Memphis | Public | 12,701 | 72.0% | $48,458 |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | Chattanooga | Public | 10,074 | 81.1% | $51,151 |
| East Tennessee State University | Johnson City | Public | 10,004 | 86.2% | $44,859 |
| South College | Knoxville | Private For-Profit | 8,745 | — | $36,642 |
| Tennessee Technological University | Cookeville | Public | 8,698 | 76.1% | $48,501 |
| Austin Peay State University | Clarksville | Public | 7,560 | 96.4% | $44,301 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | Private Nonprofit | 7,208 | 5.9% | $91,565 |
| Belmont University | Nashville | Private Nonprofit | 7,137 | 95.3% | $55,930 |
| Pellissippi State Community College | Knoxville | Public | 6,715 | — | $38,440 |
| Nashville State Community College | Nashville | Public | 5,653 | — | $38,519 |
| Volunteer State Community College | Gallatin | Public | 5,339 | — | $41,150 |
| Chattanooga State Community College | Chattanooga | Public | 5,284 | — | $37,598 |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College | Memphis | Public | 5,047 | — | $34,071 |
| The University of Tennessee-Martin | Martin | Public | 4,866 | 88.2% | $44,213 |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville | Public | 4,848 | 70.1% | $42,730 |
| Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga | Chattanooga | Private For-Profit | 4,462 | — | $31,102 |
| Northeast State Community College | Blountville | Public | 4,404 | — | $34,553 |
| Motlow State Community College | Tullahoma | Public | 3,962 | — | $40,397 |
| Columbia State Community College | Columbia | Public | 3,897 | — | $40,256 |
| Walters State Community College | Morristown | Public | 3,591 | — | $37,085 |
| Roane State Community College | Harriman | Public | 3,250 | — | $39,407 |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville | Private Nonprofit | 2,997 | 67.7% | $55,541 |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale | Private Nonprofit | 2,773 | 65.5% | $53,723 |
| Lee University | Cleveland | Private Nonprofit | 2,617 | 70.5% | $43,222 |
| Jackson State Community College | Jackson | Public | 2,511 | — | $35,224 |
| Cumberland University | Lebanon | Private Nonprofit | 2,104 | 67.3% | $57,687 |
| Dyersburg State Community College | Dyersburg | Public | 2,103 | — | $36,132 |
| Cleveland State Community College | Cleveland | Public | 1,975 | — | $36,671 |
| Rhodes College | Memphis | Private Nonprofit | 1,836 | 50.3% | $66,651 |
| Strayer University-Tennessee | Memphis | Private For-Profit | 1,784 | — | $40,092 |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | Nashville | Private Nonprofit | 1,737 | 69.4% | $49,378 |
| SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville | Nashville | Private For-Profit | 1,712 | — | $39,544 |
| The University of the South | Sewanee | Private Nonprofit | 1,607 | 56.9% | $64,911 |
| Union University | Jackson | Private Nonprofit | 1,607 | 60.4% | $53,990 |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate | Private Nonprofit | 1,572 | 62.6% | $49,956 |
| Bethel University | McKenzie | Private Nonprofit | 1,547 | 60.2% | $47,482 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis | Memphis | Public | 1,391 | — | $31,192 |
| Carson-Newman University | Jefferson City | Private Nonprofit | 1,387 | 90.5% | $48,382 |
| Freed-Hardeman University | Henderson | Private Nonprofit | 1,212 | 59.7% | $47,485 |
| Fisk University | Nashville | Private Nonprofit | 1,035 | 37.4% | $45,454 |
| Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus | Nashville | Private For-Profit | 1,027 | — | $61,480 |
| Maryville College | Maryville | Private Nonprofit | 1,005 | 60.9% | $49,279 |
| Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville | Nashville | Private For-Profit | 967 | — | $46,396 |
| King University | Bristol | Private Nonprofit | 908 | 99.7% | $59,831 |
| Christian Brothers University | Memphis | Private Nonprofit | 905 | 86.7% | $57,478 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville | Knoxville | Public | 887 | — | $37,235 |
| The University of Tennessee Southern | Pulaski | Public | 864 | 86.7% | $38,924 |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | Athens | Private Nonprofit | 846 | 68.8% | $45,989 |
| Milligan University | Milligan | Private Nonprofit | 818 | 72.3% | $46,641 |
| Bryan College-Dayton | Dayton | Private Nonprofit | 814 | — | $54,434 |
| Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting | Nashville | Private For-Profit | 805 | — | $62,978 |
| Tusculum University | Greeneville | Private Nonprofit | 785 | 72.2% | $44,367 |
| Baptist Health Sciences University | Memphis | Private Nonprofit | 770 | 82.0% | $72,529 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville | Nashville | Public | 759 | — | $38,955 |
| Johnson University | Knoxville | Private Nonprofit | 743 | 65.1% | $40,596 |
| Lane College | Jackson | Private Nonprofit | 736 | — | $31,670 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest | Newbern | Public | 717 | — | $38,514 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Dickson | Dickson | Public | 714 | — | $36,829 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro | Murfreesboro | Public | 709 | — | $40,869 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Morristown | Morristown | Public | 642 | — | $38,837 |
| Le Moyne-Owen College | Memphis | Private Nonprofit | 581 | 99.2% | $35,594 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson | Jackson | Public | 563 | — | $38,383 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton | Elizabethton | Public | 546 | — | $35,069 |
| Concorde Career College-Memphis | Memphis | Private For-Profit | 517 | 95.1% | $31,599 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville | Shelbyville | Public | 412 | — | $38,700 |
| The University of Tennessee Health Science Center | Memphis | Public | 394 | — | $66,318 |
| Fortis Institute-Nashville | Nashville | Private For-Profit | 393 | — | $32,886 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump | Crump | Public | 388 | — | $30,796 |
| William R Moore College of Technology | Memphis | Private Nonprofit | 366 | — | $32,194 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Upper Cumberland | Crossville | Public | 360 | — | $35,551 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hohenwald | Hohenwald | Public | 346 | — | $36,106 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston | Livingston | Public | 340 | — | $33,497 |
| Fortis Institute-Cookeville | Cookeville | Private For-Profit | 334 | — | $34,509 |
| Remington College-Memphis Campus | Memphis | Private Nonprofit | 331 | — | $31,349 |
| Tennessee School of Beauty of Knoxville Inc | Knoxville | Private For-Profit | 323 | — | $19,913 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnville | McMinnville | Public | 302 | — | $40,322 |
| Genesis Career College-Cookeville | Cookeville | Private For-Profit | 300 | — | $22,652 |
| Remington College-Nashville Campus | Nashville | Private Nonprofit | 280 | — | $31,349 |
| Brillare Beauty Institute | Cleveland | Private Nonprofit | 265 | — | $24,728 |
| Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers | Chattanooga | Private For-Profit | 252 | — | $25,954 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville | Hartsville | Public | 247 | — | $40,469 |
| Nossi College of Art and Design | Nashville | Private For-Profit | 247 | 46.3% | $35,113 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Harriman | Harriman | Public | 246 | — | $31,591 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski | Pulaski | Public | 246 | — | $40,368 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jacksboro | Jacksboro | Public | 231 | — | $36,449 |
| Welch College | Gallatin | Private Nonprofit | 226 | — | $42,198 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Memphis | Memphis | Private For-Profit | 216 | — | $25,306 |
| TCAT Athens | Athens | Public | 205 | — | $40,540 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro | Murfreesboro | Private For-Profit | 201 | — | $30,461 |
| Herzing University-Nashville | Nashville | Private Nonprofit | 201 | 92.7% | $36,909 |
| Academy of Allied Health Careers | Chattanooga | Private For-Profit | 194 | — | — |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Henry/Carroll | Paris | Public | 180 | — | $29,074 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Oneida-Huntsville | Huntsville | Public | 171 | — | $31,949 |
| John A Gupton College | Nashville | Private Nonprofit | 166 | 100.0% | $46,902 |
| Empire Beauty School-E Memphis | Memphis | Private For-Profit | 156 | — | $22,377 |
| Gould's Academy | Memphis | Private For-Profit | 148 | — | — |
| Gould's Academy | Bartlett | Private For-Profit | 135 | — | — |
| Lawrenceburg Technical College | Lawrenceburg | Private For-Profit | 128 | — | $25,089 |
| Sandra Academy of Salon Services | New Tazewell | Private For-Profit | 117 | — | — |
| Franklin Hair Academy School of Cosmetology | Franklin | Private For-Profit | 116 | — | — |
| Empire Beauty School-Nashville | Brentwood | Private For-Profit | 111 | — | $23,921 |
| Austin's Beauty College Inc | Clarksville | Private For-Profit | 101 | — | — |
| TC Beauty | Johnson City | Private For-Profit | 100 | — | $21,153 |
| Genesis Career College-Lebanon | Lebanon | Private For-Profit | 96 | — | $24,977 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzie | McKenzie | Public | 95 | — | $36,720 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Johnson City | Johnson City | Private For-Profit | 87 | — | $33,079 |
| The Hair Academy LLC | Fayetteville | Private For-Profit | 82 | — | $22,193 |
| Love Beauty School Inc | Manchester | Private For-Profit | 75 | — | $18,056 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Knoxville | Knoxville | Private For-Profit | 75 | — | $30,072 |
| Image Maker Beauty Institute | Hendersonville | Private For-Profit | 74 | — | — |
| Empire Beauty School-Jackson | Jackson | Private For-Profit | 73 | — | $24,397 |
| Vibe Barber College | Memphis | Private For-Profit | 71 | — | — |
| Arnolds Beauty School | Milan | Private For-Profit | 63 | — | $27,828 |
| North Central Institute | Clarksville | Private For-Profit | 61 | — | $55,027 |
| Nashville Film Institute | Nashville | Private For-Profit | 60 | — | — |
| Elite College of Cosmetology | Lexington | Private For-Profit | 53 | — | $21,197 |
| American Baptist College | Nashville | Private Nonprofit | 46 | — | $41,216 |
| Williamson Christian College | Franklin | Private Nonprofit | 41 | — | $37,474 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Nashville | Nashville | Private For-Profit | 33 | — | — |
| Mind Body Institute | Madison | Private For-Profit | 29 | — | — |
| Massage Institute of Memphis | Memphis | Private For-Profit | 29 | — | — |
| Sweetwater Institute of Cosmetology | Sweetwater | Private For-Profit | 22 | — | — |
| Mr Wayne's School of Unisex Hair Design | Cookeville | Private For-Profit | 20 | — | $23,696 |
| Mid-South Christian College | Memphis | Private Nonprofit | 19 | 100.0% | — |
| Studio 75 Hair Academy | Millington | Private For-Profit | 14 | — | — |
| Health-Tech Institute of Memphis | Memphis | Private For-Profit | 8 | — | — |
| Pentecostal Theological Seminary | Cleveland | Private Nonprofit | 0 | — | — |
| Meharry Medical College | Nashville | Private Nonprofit | — | — | — |
| Memphis Theological Seminary | Memphis | Private Nonprofit | — | — | — |
| Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Inc | Madison | Private Nonprofit | — | — | — |
| Southern College of Optometry | Memphis | Private Nonprofit | — | — | — |
| Richmont Graduate University | Chattanooga | Private Nonprofit | — | — | — |
| Omega Graduate School | Dayton | Private Nonprofit | — | — | — |
| Casa Loma College - Nashville | Nashville | Private Nonprofit | — | — | $49,854 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jacksboro | LaFollette | Public | — | — | $36,449 |
| South College-Nashville | Nashville | Private For-Profit | — | — | $36,642 |
| Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary- YMCA Outdoor Center | Antioch | Private Nonprofit | — | — | — |
| Strayer University-Shelby Oaks Campus | Memphis | Private For-Profit | — | — | $40,092 |
| Jersey College - Cleveland | Cleveland | Private For-Profit | — | — | $66,087 |
| Jersey College - Knoxville | Knoxville | Private For-Profit | — | — | $66,087 |
| Relay Graduate School of Education - Memphis | Memphis | Private Nonprofit | — | — | — |
| Relay Graduate School of Education - Nashville | Nashville | Private Nonprofit | — | — | — |
Featured Colleges in Tennessee
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About This Data
School data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS institutional characteristics files. Enrollment, admissions, and earnings figures are the most recently available. Earnings represent median income 10 years after enrollment for students who received federal financial aid, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal student aid applicants.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.