List of 56 best universities in Tennessee

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 15.5M citations received by 470K academic publications made by 56 universities from Tennessee, the popularity of 1,779 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. Vanderbilt University

Nashville

#50 in the United States

#54 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

2. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Knoxville

#69 in the United States

#78 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

3. University of Memphis

Memphis

#183 in the United States

#208 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1055
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 97%

4. University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Memphis

#219 in the United States

#246 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 3,121
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1911

5. East Tennessee State University

Johnson

#261 in the United States

#292 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 92%

6. Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro

#289 in the United States

#320 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 96%

7. University of Tennessee - Chattanooga

Chattanooga

#338 in the United States

#375 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1095
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

8. Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville

#345 in the United States

#384 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 97%

9. Tennessee State University

Nashville

#400 in the United States

#446 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 962
Average ACT: 19
Receiving Aid: 94%

10. University of the South

Sewanee

#442 in the United States

#488 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1317
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $33,616

11. University of Tennessee - Martin

Martin

#504 in the United States

#555 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 99%

12. Meharry Medical College

Nashville

#508 in the United States

#559 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 1,083
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1876

13. Johnson University

Knoxville

#511 in the United States

#562 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 990
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $20,713

14. Belmont University

Nashville

#620 in the United States

#677 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $37,558

15. Rhodes College

Memphis

#621 in the United States

#679 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $30,590

16. Austin Peay State University

Clarksville

#638 in the United States

#698 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1054
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 98%

17. Fisk University

Nashville

#655 in the United States

#715 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $19,836

18. Lipscomb University

Nashville

#756 in the United States

#824 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1248
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $27,386

19. King University

Bristol

#769 in the United States

#837 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Net Price: $23,282
Receiving Aid: 84%
Average Aid: $24,339

20. Union University

Jackson

#809 in the United States

#877 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $27,191

21. Lee University

Cleveland

#852 in the United States

#920 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $20,222

22. Lincoln Memorial University

Harrogate

#906 in the United States

#974 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1113
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $19,401

23. Carson-Newman University

Jefferson City

#934 in the United States

#1003 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1035
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $19,755

24. Bryan College - Dayton

Dayton

#1101 in the United States

#1175 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $17,105
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $12,650

25. Christian Brothers University

Memphis

#1147 in the United States

#1223 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $17,068

26. Southern Adventist University

Collegedale

#1161 in the United States

#1237 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1120
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $25,374

27. Maryville College

Maryville

#1208 in the United States

#1284 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1103
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $20,990

28. Milligan College

Milligan College

#1289 in the United States

#1367 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $21,463

29. Southern College of Optometry

Memphis

#1412 in the United States

#1491 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Enrollment: 525
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1932

30. Tusculum University

Greeneville

#1414 in the United States

#1493 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Net Price: $22,961
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $20,374

31. South College

Knoxville

#1447 in the United States

#1530 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $16,584
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $13,698

32. Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville

#1493 in the United States

#1577 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1083
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $16,222

33. Lane College

Jackson

#1553 in the United States

#1639 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $13,384
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $10,229

34. Freed-Hardeman University

Henderson

#1578 in the United States

#1664 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1009
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $18,267

35. Cumberland University

Lebanon

#1581 in the United States

#1667 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Net Price: $17,669
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $23,749

36. Le Moyne-Owen College

Memphis

#1647 in the United States

#1734 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Net Price: $8,362
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $11,001

37. Tennessee Wesleyan University

Athens

#1778 in the United States

#1867 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $16,414

38. American Baptist College

Nashville

#1813 in the United States

#1902 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $18,124
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $12,012

39. Welch College

Gallatin

#1834 in the United States

#1923 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $19,214
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $15,153

40. Memphis Theological Seminary

Memphis

#1838 in the United States

#1927 in North America

Enrollment: 195
Male:Female: 44:56

41. Martin Methodist College

Pulaski

#1860 in the United States

#1950 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1073
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $20,305

42. Memphis College of Art

Memphis

#1901 in the United States

#1993 in North America

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

43. Richmont Graduate University

Chattanooga

#1909 in the United States

#2001 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 351
Male:Female: 24:76
Founded: 1933

44. Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences

Memphis

#1947 in the United States

#2039 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $15,395
Receiving Aid: 100%

45. Pentecostal Theological Seminary

Cleveland

#1973 in the United States

#2066 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 501
Male:Female: 64:36

46. Omega Graduate School

Dayton

#2033 in the United States

#2126 in North America

Enrollment: 62
Male:Female: 50:50

47. Hiwassee College

Madisonville

#2037 in the United States

#2130 in North America

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

48. Bethel University - Tennessee

McKenzie

#2055 in the United States

#2148 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Average SAT: 863
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $20,606

49. Aquinas College, Tennessee

Nashville

#2145 in the United States

#2242 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 1961

50. Nossi College of Art

Nashville

#2179 in the United States

#2277 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Net Price: $23,745
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $3,097

51. Huntington University of Health Sciences

Knoxville

#2207 in the United States

#2305 in North America

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

52. Watkins College of Art Design & Film

Nashville

#2221 in the United States

#2320 in North America

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

53. Visible Music College

Memphis

#2227 in the United States

#2327 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $25,502
Receiving Aid: 88%

54. Williamson Christian College

Franklin

#2310 in the United States

#2411 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $19,813
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $7,411

55. Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Inc

Nashville

#2343 in the United States

#2444 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 308
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1950

56. Mid-South Christian College

Memphis

#2377 in the United States

#2478 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $15,877
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $5,264

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Kentucky	38	63
Alabama	33	87
Georgia	63	47
Indiana	55	33
Mississippi	18	132
South Carolina	37	89
Illinois	100	15
North Carolina	65	24
Arkansas	24	128
Ohio	90	18
West Virginia	26	105
Missouri	67	39
Virginia	63	40
Louisiana	27	79
District of Columbia	15	55
Maryland	34	9
Iowa	39	48
Pennsylvania	155	12
Michigan	62	3
Florida	109	23
Delaware	5	82
Wisconsin	47	13
Oklahoma	31	99
Kansas	32	74
New Jersey	47	21
New York	221	4
Minnesota	48	14
Connecticut	28	10
Nebraska	23	64
Rhode Island	12	49
Massachusetts	88	1
Texas	119	26
Vermont	17	111
South Dakota	15	232
New Hampshire	16	76
Colorado	38	44
North Dakota	14	177
Maine	19	154
New Mexico	12	84
Wyoming	1	146
Utah	20	41
Montana	12	145
Arizona	25	35
Idaho	10	149
Nevada	10	129
Puerto Rico	52	367
US Virgin Islands	1	790
California	249	2
Oregon	31	60
Washington	57	8
Alaska	6	181
Hawaii	10	159
American Samoa	1	1689
Northern Mariana Islands	1	1585
Guam	2	601

Closest to Tennessee states