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State Overview

Colleges in Tennessee: 35 Ranked by Earnings, Tuition & Graduation Rate

Every college in Tennessee with verified College Scorecard data, ranked three ways below: by graduate earnings, by in-state tuition and by graduation rate. 43 institutions in total.

Institutions

43

Avg In-State Tuition

$23,951

Avg Out-of-State

$26,087

Avg Earnings

$42,917

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Quick answer

According to College Scorecard data on CollegeFactbook.com, Tennessee has 43 degree-granting colleges and universities with average in-state tuition of $23,951 and average graduate earnings of $42,917 ten years after entry.

State Overview

Tennessee has 43 higher education institutions. The average in-state tuition is $23,950.90, while the average out-of-state tuition is $26,086.67. The average graduate earnings are $42,916.74.

These figures suggest that students in Tennessee can access higher education at a cost that is lower than the average graduate earnings. This could indicate a positive return on investment for students who pursue higher education in the state.

Generated from College Scorecard & IPEDS data

Schools by Type

Popular Majors in Tennessee

Business Administration, Management and Operations

5,380 graduates

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

4,492 graduates

Health and Physical Education/Fitness

2,475 graduates

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

2,261 graduates

Psychology, General

1,686 graduates

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

1,449 graduates

Biology, General

1,448 graduates

Accounting and Related Services

1,196 graduates

Educational Administration and Supervision

1,168 graduates

Social Work

1,149 graduates

Communication and Media Studies

1,049 graduates

Criminal Justice and Corrections

1,046 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations Salary Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Salary Health and Physical Education/Fitness Salary

Cost Comparison

TN Avg In-State $23,951
TN Avg Out-of-State $26,087

Cost Analysis

Tennessee's average in-state tuition of $23,951 compares to an average out-of-state tuition of $26,087. The average graduate from a Tennessee institution earns $42,917 within 5 years of graduation.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are 43 colleges and universities in Tennessee, including public, private non-profit, and for-profit institutions.

Best Colleges in Tennessee, Ranked by Data

Three orderings of the same 35 colleges, straight from College Scorecard: who earns most after graduating, who charges least in-state, and who graduates the largest share. No editorial weighting.

Best colleges in Tennessee by graduate earnings

  1. 1 Vanderbilt University $73,909 median, 5 yrs · Nashville
  2. 2 Baptist Health Sciences University $59,224 median, 5 yrs · Memphis
  3. 3 The University of the South $53,456 median, 5 yrs · Sewanee
  4. 4 King University $52,248 median, 5 yrs · Bristol
  5. 5 Cumberland University $52,246 median, 5 yrs · Lebanon
  6. 6 Lipscomb University $50,454 median, 5 yrs · Nashville
  7. 7 Rhodes College $48,898 median, 5 yrs · Memphis
  8. 8 Christian Brothers University $48,592 median, 5 yrs · Memphis
  9. 9 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville $47,782 median, 5 yrs · Knoxville
  10. 10 Trevecca Nazarene University $46,065 median, 5 yrs · Nashville

Cheapest colleges in Tennessee by in-state tuition

  1. 1 Tennessee State University $8,568 / year · Nashville
  2. 2 Austin Peay State University $8,675 / year · Clarksville
  3. 3 Middle Tennessee State University $9,506 / year · Murfreesboro
  4. 4 East Tennessee State University $9,950 / year · Johnson City
  5. 5 Tennessee Technological University $10,084 / year · Cookeville
  6. 6 The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga $10,144 / year · Chattanooga
  7. 7 The University of Tennessee-Martin $10,208 / year · Martin
  8. 8 University of Memphis $10,344 / year · Memphis
  9. 9 The University of Tennessee Southern $10,506 / year · Pulaski
  10. 10 Le Moyne-Owen College $12,076 / year · Memphis

Best colleges in Tennessee by graduation rate

  1. 1 Vanderbilt University 93 % graduate · Nashville
  2. 2 Rhodes College 83 % graduate · Memphis
  3. 3 The University of the South 82 % graduate · Sewanee
  4. 4 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville 73 % graduate · Knoxville
  5. 5 Belmont University 72 % graduate · Nashville
  6. 6 Lipscomb University 69 % graduate · Nashville
  7. 7 Freed-Hardeman University 69 % graduate · Henderson
  8. 8 Union University 69 % graduate · Jackson
  9. 9 Johnson University 64 % graduate · Knoxville
  10. 10 Lee University 62 % graduate · Cleveland

National rankings: highest earning · most affordable · best graduation rate · best ROI.