Top Tennessee Colleges and Universities

About this article
Located in the southern portion of the United States, Tennessee is more commonly known as the Volunteer State. There are 47 colleges and universities in Tennessee, five of which are described below.
View available schools

Top Five Schools in Tennessee

Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, is a private educational institution. It was founded in 1873 by Cornelius Vanderbilt and has a student population of 11,607. Vanderbilt University is ranked 19th by U.S. News & World Report. There are ten colleges and schools at Vanderbilt University: Arts and Sciences, Music, the Divinity School, Engineering, Graduate School, Law, Medicine, Nursing, Management, Education and Management and Education and Human Development. The undergraduate tuition is $34,414.

University of Tennessee

The University of Tennessee is a public educational institution located in Knoxville. It was founded in 1794 and has an undergraduate student population of 20,400. The University of Tennessee is the largest public university in the state. Adding to its reach, the University of Tennessee has satellite campuses in Chattanooga, Tullahoma, Martin and Memphis. The University of Tennessee is ranked 96th in the country by U.S. News & World Report. There are many colleges and schools at the University of Tennessee: Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources; Architecture and Design; Arts and Sciences; Business Administration; Communication and Information; Education, Health, and Human Sciences; Engineering; Graduate School; Law; Nursing; and Social Work. The undergraduate tuition for residents is $5,932 and $18,174 for non-residents

Middle Tennessee State University

Middle Tennessee State University is a public educational institution located in Murfreesboro. It was founded in 1911 and has an undergraduate student population of 20,899. Middle Tennessee State University was primarily known for its superior programs in nursing and education; however, it has grown considerably to encompass a wide range of academic disciplines. There are eight colleges at Middle Tennessee State University: Basic and Applied Sciences; Business; Education and Behavioral Science; Graduate Studies; Continuing Education and Distance Learning; Liberal Arts; Mass Communication; and University Honors. The undergraduate tuition for residents is $5,278 and $15,554 for non-residents.

University of Memphis

University of Memphis is a public educational institution located in Memphis. It was founded in 1912 and has an undergraduate student population of 15,000. The university is known as being the primary research institution in the state of Tennessee. Some of the research centers that the university hosts include the FedEx Institute of Technology, the Center for Earthquake Research and Information and the Institute of Intelligent Systems. In addition to these research centers, the university houses ten schools and colleges. The undergraduate tuition for residents per year is $5,802 and $16,630 for non-residents.

East Tennessee State University

East Tennessee State University is a public educational institution located in Johnson City. It was founded in 1911 and has an undergraduate student population of 10,204. East Tennessee State University is nationally known as being one of the best value colleges. In recent years, the university has gained notoriety for its Appalachian Studies program and also its Bluegrass and Country Music program. ETS has ten schools and colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business and Technology, Education, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public and Allied Health, Honors College, Continuing Studies and Graduate Studies. The undergraduate tuition for residents is $4,058 and $10,276 for non-residents.

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Bryant & Stratton College

    Program Options

    Bachelor's
      • BS Human & Social Services
      • Nursing - BSN: Registered Nurse to BSN
      • BS Health Services Administration
      • BPS Professional Studies
    Associate's
      • AS - Criminal Justice
      • AS - Accounting
      • AS - Human Resources Specialist
      • AS - IT Networking
      • AAS Early Childhood Education
      • AAS Human and Social Services
    Certificate
      • Criminal Justice and Security Services Diploma
      • Accounting Assistant Diploma
      • Early Childhood Care and Development Diploma
      • Health Services Admin Diploma
      • Hospitality Assistant Diploma
      • Medical Office Assistant Diploma
  • Online Programs Available
    2. Purdue Global

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Health Sciences
      • Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation
    Master's
      • M.S. in Health Education
      • MS in Psychology - Forensic Psychology
      • Master of Science in Legal Studies
      • MS in Psychology
      • Master : Business Admin
      • Master: Psychology/General Psychology
    Bachelor's
      • Undergraduate in Legal Studies
      • BS in Communication
      • Bachelor of Science in Psychology
      • BS in Organizational Management - Decision Management
      • BS in Communication - Business Fundamentals
      • BS in Communication - Digital Communication
    Associate's
      • AASBA in Business
      • Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice
      • Associate of Applied Science in Legal Support and Services
      • Associate: Business Admin.
      • Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Development
      • Associate of Applied Science in Human Services
    Certificate
      • Human Services - Child and Family Services Certificate
      • Professional Focus + Google Project Management Certificate
      • Certificate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology Graduate
      • Professional Focus + Google UX Design Certificate
      • AWS Cloud Technologies
      • Project Management
  • Online Programs Available
    3. Liberty University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • DME: Music Education
      • LLM: International Legal Studies
      • EDD: Curriculum & Instruction
      • EDD: Curriculum & Instruction: Elementary Education
      • EDD: Curriculum & Instruction: Middle Grades Education
      • EDD: Curriculum & Instruction: Secondary Education
    Master's
      • MA: Communication
      • MS: Criminal Justice
      • MA: Medical Sciences: Biopsychology
      • MA: Music Education: Music Studies
      • MBA: American Legal Studies
      • MS: Criminal Justice: Public Administration
    Bachelor's
      • BS: Psychology
      • BS: English & Writing: Journalism
      • BS: Strategic Communication: Social Media Management
      • BED: Business Education 6-12
      • BED: English Education 6-12
      • BED: Middle Education: Math
    Associate's
      • AA: Business
      • AA: Education (Non-Licensure)
      • AA: Psychology
      • AA: Philosophy, Politics, & Economics
      • AAS: Medical Office Assistant
      • AA: Accounting
    Certificate
      • GRAD CERT: Strategic Communication
      • GRAD CERT: Fundamentals of Communication
      • CERT: Criminal Justice
      • CERT: Journalism Education
      • GRAD CERT: Advanced Criminal Justice
      • GRAD CERT: Applied Communication Studies
  • Campus and Online Programs
    4. Full Sail University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Film Production Masters - Campus
      • Game Design Masters - Campus
      • Entertainment Business Masters - Campus
      • Entertainment Business Masters with a Sports Management Elective Track - Campus
      • Computer Science Masters - Online
    Bachelor's
      • Sportscasting Bachelors - Campus
      • Media Communications Bachelors - Campus
      • Simulation and Visualization Bachelors - Campus
      • Bachelor of Science - Software Development
      • Creative Writing Bachelors - Campus
      • Film Bachelors - Campus
    Associate's
      • Sportscasting Associates - Campus
      • Sportscasting Associates - Online
    Certificate
      • Computer Science Bachelors with AI Concentration - Online
      • User Experience Bachelors - Online
  • Online Programs Available
    5. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
      • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Quantitative Research
      • Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Performance Psychology (Qualitative Research)
      • Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Performance Psychology (Quantitative Research)
      • Education Specialist in Teaching and Learning
      • D.B.A. with an Emphasis in Marketing - Qualitative Research
    Master's
      • M.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Human Factors
      • MA in Curriculum and Instruction
      • MS in Psychology: General Psychology
      • M.A. in Communication with an Emphasis in Education
      • M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in Humanities (ITL)
      • M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in Humanities (NITL)
    Bachelor's
      • Bachelor: Communications
      • BS in Psychology
      • B.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Performance and Sports Psychology
      • Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an Emphasis in Interpersonal Communication and Human Relationships
      • Bachelor: Business Admin
      • BA in Digital Film - Screenwriting
  • Online Programs Available
    6. National University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • DBA - General Business
      • Doctor of Criminal Justice
      • Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership
      • Doctor of Education in Instructional Design
      • Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science
      • EdD - Curriculum and Teaching
    Master's
      • MAPsy - General Psychology
      • MEd - General Education
      • MSOL - Criminal Justice
      • Master of Science in Computer Science
      • Master of Science in Data Science
      • MBA - Entrepreneurship
    Certificate
      • EdS - Educational Leadership
      • EdS - Learning Analytics in Higher Education
      • EdS - Learning Analytics in K-12 Education
      • Education Specialist in Educational Leadership
  • Online Programs Available
    7. Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Masters in Psychology
      • Masters in Dispute Resolution
      • Masters in Legal Studies
      • Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis
      • Masters in Clinical Psychology (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)
  • Campus and Online Programs
    8. The Chicago School

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Online - Ph.D. International Psychology
      • Online - Ph.D. Organizational Leadership
      • Online - Ph.D. Business Psychology: Consulting Track
      • Online - Ph.D. Business Psychology: Industrial/Organizational Track
      • Online - Psy.D. Applied Clinical Psychology
      • Online - Ed.D. Educational Psychology and Technology
    Master's
      • Online - M.A. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Internship/Thesis Track
      • Online - M.A. International Psychology
      • Online - M.A. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: ARP Track
      • Online - M.A. Applied Psychology
      • Online - M.A. Behavioral Economics
      • Online - M.A. Forensic Psychology: Non-Licensure Track
    Bachelor's
      • Online - B.S. Business Management
      • Online - BA Psychology: Focused Path
      • Online - B.A. Psychology
      • Online - B.S. Business Psychology
      • Online - B.A. Criminology
    Certificate
      • Online - Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning
      • Online - Industrial and Organizational Psychology Generalist Certificate
      • Online - Certificate in Behavioral Economics
      • Online - Certificate in Organizational Leadership
      • Online - Child and Adolescent Psychology Certificate
      • Online - Crisis-Informed Care for a Diverse, Globalized World Certificate
  • Campus Locations:
    9. Universal Technical Institute

    Program Options

    Certificate
      • CNC
      • Automotive
      • Non-Harley Motorcycle
      • Marine
      • Industrial Maintenance (Electrical)
  • Online Programs Available
    10. Penn Foster

    Program Options

    Associate's
      • A.S. Degree in Veterinary Technology
    Certificate
      • Career Diploma - Dental Assistant
      • Career Diploma - Motorcycle Repair Technician
      • Career Diploma - Sterile Processing
      • Career Diploma - Medical Administrative Assistant
      • Career Diploma - Pharmacy Technician
      • Medical Assistant Diploma

Featured Schools

Bryant & Stratton College

  • BS Human & Social Services
  • AS - Criminal Justice
  • Criminal Justice and Security Services Diploma

Which subject are you interested in?

Purdue Global

  • Doctor of Health Sciences
  • M.S. in Health Education
  • Undergraduate in Legal Studies
  • AASBA in Business
  • Human Services - Child and Family Services Certificate

Which subject are you interested in?

Liberty University

  • DME: Music Education
  • MA: Communication
  • BS: Psychology
  • AA: Business
  • GRAD CERT: Strategic Communication

What is your highest level of education?

Full Sail University

  • Film Production Masters - Campus
  • Sportscasting Bachelors - Campus
  • Sportscasting Associates - Campus
  • Computer Science Bachelors with AI Concentration - Online

What is your highest level of education?

Grand Canyon University

  • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
  • M.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Human Factors
  • Bachelor: Communications

What is your highest level of education?

National University

  • DBA - General Business
  • MAPsy - General Psychology
  • EdS - Educational Leadership

What is your highest level of education?

Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

  • Masters in Psychology
  • Masters in Dispute Resolution
  • Masters in Legal Studies

Which subject are you interested in?

The Chicago School

  • Online - Ph.D. International Psychology
  • Online - M.A. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Internship/Thesis Track
  • Online - B.S. Business Management
  • Online - Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning

What is your highest level of education completed?