List of 56 best universities in Tennessee

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Top 56 universities in Tennessee ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence. The rankings are determined by analyzing 16.3M citations received by 483K academic publications made by 56 universities from Tennessee, the popularity of 1,877 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. Vanderbilt University

Nashville

#48 in the United States

#52 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

2. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Knoxville

#69 in the United States

#78 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

3. University of Memphis

Memphis

#175 in the United States

#199 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1048
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 95%

4. University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Memphis

#224 in the United States

#252 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 3,101
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1911

5. East Tennessee State University

Johnson

#254 in the United States

#285 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1090
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

6. Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro

#280 in the United States

#311 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1120
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 96%

7. University of Tennessee - Chattanooga

Chattanooga

#327 in the United States

#364 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1112
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 96%

8. Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville

#334 in the United States

#371 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1179
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 97%

9. Tennessee State University

Nashville

#402 in the United States

#448 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 965
Average ACT: 19
Receiving Aid: 75%

10. University of the South

Sewanee

#458 in the United States

#506 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $34,815

11. Johnson University

Knoxville

#466 in the United States

#514 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1035
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $22,615

12. University of Tennessee - Martin

Martin

#485 in the United States

#534 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1090
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 99%

13. Meharry Medical College

Nashville

#521 in the United States

#573 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 1,226
Male:Female: 32:68
Founded: 1876

14. Belmont University

Nashville

#571 in the United States

#626 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $38,578

15. Rhodes College

Memphis

#576 in the United States

#631 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1393
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $31,037

16. Austin Peay State University

Clarksville

#593 in the United States

#650 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 985
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 99%

17. Fisk University

Nashville

#692 in the United States

#756 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $18,595

18. Lipscomb University

Nashville

#731 in the United States

#798 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $27,695

19. King University

Bristol

#780 in the United States

#848 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $22,748
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $26,366

20. Union University

Jackson

#807 in the United States

#875 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $28,452

21. Lincoln Memorial University

Harrogate

#840 in the United States

#908 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $21,447

22. Lee University

Cleveland

#859 in the United States

#928 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $20,416

23. Carson-Newman University

Jefferson City

#943 in the United States

#1015 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1085
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $20,895

24. Southern Adventist University

Collegedale

#1099 in the United States

#1174 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $25,753

25. Bryan College - Dayton

Dayton

#1109 in the United States

#1184 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $18,159
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $13,271

26. Maryville College

Maryville

#1161 in the United States

#1236 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Net Price: $21,469
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $33,153

27. Christian Brothers University

Memphis

#1173 in the United States

#1248 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $16,754

28. Milligan College

Milligan College

#1262 in the United States

#1340 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1201
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $21,165

29. Tusculum University

Greeneville

#1413 in the United States

#1497 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Net Price: $20,355
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $23,759

30. Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville

#1421 in the United States

#1505 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1108
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $18,035

31. Southern College of Optometry

Memphis

#1449 in the United States

#1534 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Enrollment: 530
Male:Female: 32:68
Founded: 1932

32. Lane College

Jackson

#1468 in the United States

#1554 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $11,803
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,689

33. Freed-Hardeman University

Henderson

#1475 in the United States

#1561 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1020
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $20,178

34. South College

Knoxville

#1493 in the United States

#1579 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $17,588
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $14,208

35. Cumberland University

Lebanon

#1522 in the United States

#1608 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Net Price: $18,499
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $24,703

36. Le Moyne-Owen College

Memphis

#1580 in the United States

#1666 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Net Price: $6,542
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $12,222

37. Tennessee Wesleyan University

Athens

#1725 in the United States

#1814 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $15,125
Receiving Aid: 100%

38. Welch College

Gallatin

#1783 in the United States

#1872 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $21,157
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $15,462

39. American Baptist College

Nashville

#1823 in the United States

#1913 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $8,340
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $18,704

40. Martin Methodist College

Pulaski

#1844 in the United States

#1934 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1008
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $20,305

41. Richmont Graduate University

Chattanooga

#1886 in the United States

#1978 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 329
Male:Female: 22:78
Founded: 1933

42. Memphis College of Art

Memphis

#1889 in the United States

#1981 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Net Price: $32,480
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $18,439

43. Memphis Theological Seminary

Memphis

#1890 in the United States

#1982 in North America

Enrollment: 157
Male:Female: 45:55

44. Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences

Memphis

#1951 in the United States

#2044 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $11,348
Receiving Aid: 100%

45. Omega Graduate School

Dayton

#1952 in the United States

#2045 in North America

Enrollment: 69
Male:Female: 57:43

46. Pentecostal Theological Seminary

Cleveland

#1989 in the United States

#2082 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 517
Male:Female: 63:37

47. Hiwassee College

Madisonville

#2058 in the United States

#2152 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $11,434
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $14,450

48. Bethel University - Tennessee

McKenzie

#2069 in the United States

#2164 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 975
Average ACT: 18
Net Price: $13,112

49. Huntington University of Health Sciences

Knoxville

#2101 in the United States

#2198 in North America

Net Price: $26,623
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $1,682

50. Aquinas College, Tennessee

Nashville

#2145 in the United States

#2243 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 1961

51. Nossi College of Art

Nashville

#2171 in the United States

#2270 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Net Price: $24,044
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $3,666

52. Watkins College of Art Design & Film

Nashville

#2223 in the United States

#2323 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Net Price: $30,279
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $8,804

53. Visible Music College

Memphis

#2259 in the United States

#2360 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $27,045
Receiving Aid: 77%

54. Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Inc

Nashville

#2303 in the United States

#2404 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 319
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1950

55. Williamson Christian College

Franklin

#2319 in the United States

#2420 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $19,784
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $7,935

56. Mid-South Christian College

Memphis

#2339 in the United States

#2440 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $12,752
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $7,216

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Kentucky	38	59
Alabama	33	85
Georgia	63	47
Indiana	55	34
Mississippi	18	132
South Carolina	37	88
Illinois	100	15
North Carolina	65	24
Arkansas	24	128
Ohio	90	18
West Virginia	26	108
Missouri	67	39
Virginia	63	40
Louisiana	27	79
District of Columbia	15	51
Maryland	34	9
Iowa	39	49
Pennsylvania	155	12
Michigan	62	3
Florida	109	23
Delaware	5	90
Wisconsin	47	13
Oklahoma	31	97
Kansas	32	73
New Jersey	47	21
New York	221	4
Minnesota	48	14
Connecticut	28	10
Nebraska	23	64
Rhode Island	12	50
Massachusetts	88	1
Texas	119	26
Vermont	17	114
South Dakota	15	223
New Hampshire	16	74
Colorado	38	45
North Dakota	14	180
Maine	19	155
New Mexico	12	83
Wyoming	1	142
Utah	20	41
Montana	12	153
Arizona	25	35
Idaho	10	146
Nevada	10	131
Puerto Rico	52	366
US Virgin Islands	1	789
California	249	2
Oregon	31	61
Washington	57	8
Alaska	6	182
Hawaii	10	357
American Samoa	1	1625
Northern Mariana Islands	1	1521
Guam	2	623

Closest to Tennessee states