Top Tennessee Colleges and Universities

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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.
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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. 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. Psychology with an Emphasis in Gerontology
      • 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)
    Bachelor's
      • Bachelor: Communications
      • BS in Psychology
      • B.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Performance and Sports Psychology
      • Bachelor: Business Admin
      • BA in Digital Film - Screenwriting
      • Bachelor: Accounting
  • Online Programs Available
    2. Wake Forest University - School of Professional Studies

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Master of Communications
      • Master of Health Administration
      • Master of Health Informatics
      • Master of Public Administration
      • Masters in Project Management
      • Master of Educational Leadership
    Certificate
      • Digital Marketing and Analytics Certificate
      • Project Management Certificate
  • Online Programs Available
    3. 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)
  • Online Programs Available
    4. Purdue Global

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Health Sciences
      • Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation
    Master's
      • M.S. in Health Education
      • Master of Science in Legal Studies
      • Master : Business Admin
      • MBA: Human Resources
      • MBA: Health Care Management
      • MBA: Project Management
    Bachelor's
      • Undergraduate in Legal Studies
      • BS in Communication
      • BS in Criminal Justice - Socially Responsible Leadership
      • 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
      • Professional Focus + Google UX Design Certificate
      • Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design for Organizations
      • Medical Billing and Coding Certificate
      • Professional Focus + Google IT Support Certificate
  • Online Programs Available
    5. UMass Global

    Program Options

    Master's
      • MA in Organizational Leadership
      • MBA in Business Administration
      • MBA in Business Administration (Accounting)
      • MBA in Business Administration (Bus Intel & Data Analytics)
      • MBA in Business Administration (Finance)
      • MBA in Business Administration (Health Administration)
    Bachelor's
      • BA in Communications & Media
      • BA in Criminal Justice
      • BA in Legal Studies
      • BA in Legal Studies (Business Law)
      • BA in Psychology (Child Psychology)
      • BA in Psychology (General Psychology)
    Associate's
      • AA (General Education)
  • 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 - Curriculum and Teaching
      • MEd - General Education
      • MEd - Reading Education
      • MSOL - Criminal Justice
      • Master of Science in Computer Science
    Certificate
      • EdS - Curriculum and Teaching
      • EdS - General Education
      • EdS - Social Emotional Learning
      • EdS - Early Childhood Education
      • EdS - International Education
      • EdS - Organizational Leadership
  • Campus and Online Programs
    7. Full Sail University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Game Design Masters - Campus
      • Entertainment Business Masters - Campus
      • Computer Science Masters - Online
      • M.S. - Entertainment Business
      • M.S. - New Media Journalism
      • M.S. - Public Relations
    Bachelor's
      • Sportscasting Bachelors - Campus
      • Bachelor of Science - Software Development
      • Communications Bachelors with Creative Writing Concentration - Campus
      • Film Production Masters - Campus
      • Communications Bachelors with Media Communications Concentration - Campus
      • Visual Arts Bachelors with Film Concentration - Campus
    Certificate
      • Computer Science Bachelors with AI Concentration - Online
      • User Experience Bachelors - Online
  • Online Programs Available
    8. 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
  • Campus Locations:
    9. Universal Technical Institute

    Program Options

    Associate's
      • Aviation Maintenance AAS
    Certificate
      • Collision Repair and Refinish Technology
      • Motorcycle Technician Specialist
      • Automotive Technology
      • Wind Power Technician
      • Marine Technician Specialist
      • Diesel Technology
  • Online Programs Available
    10. Fordham University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Master of Studies in Law in Corporate Compliance

Featured Schools

Grand Canyon University

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

What is your highest level of education?

Wake Forest University - School of Professional Studies

  • Master of Communications
  • Master of Health Administration
  • Digital Marketing and Analytics Certificate
  • Project Management Certificate

Which subject are you interested in?

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?

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?

UMass Global

  • MA in Organizational Leadership
  • BA in Communications & Media
  • AA (General Education)

Which subject are you interested in?

National University

  • DBA - General Business
  • MAPsy - General Psychology
  • EdS - Curriculum and Teaching

What is your highest level of education?

Full Sail University

  • Game Design Masters - Campus
  • Sportscasting Bachelors - Campus
  • Computer Science Bachelors with AI Concentration - Online

What is your highest level of education?

Penn Foster

  • A.S. Degree in Veterinary Technology
  • Career Diploma - Dental Assistant
  • Career Diploma - Motorcycle Repair Technician

What is your highest level of education?