List of 56 best universities in Tennessee

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 11.5M citations received by 406K academic publications made by 56 universities from Tennessee, the popularity of 1,691 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. Vanderbilt University

Nashville

#50 in the United States

#54 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

2. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Knoxville

#74 in the United States

#84 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

3. University of Memphis

Memphis

#186 in the United States

#211 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1080
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 99%

4. University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Memphis

#215 in the United States

#242 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 3,139
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1911

5. East Tennessee State University

Johnson

#255 in the United States

#286 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1085
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

6. Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro

#283 in the United States

#314 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

7. University of Tennessee - Chattanooga

Chattanooga

#332 in the United States

#369 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1117
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 96%

8. Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville

#345 in the United States

#384 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $8,471

9. Tennessee State University

Nashville

#389 in the United States

#434 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $17,315
Enrollment: 9,218

10. Johnson University

Knoxville

#461 in the United States

#508 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1088
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $21,012

11. University of Tennessee - Martin

Martin

#490 in the United States

#538 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 99%

12. University of the South

Sewanee

#499 in the United States

#548 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1307
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $33,061

13. Meharry Medical College

Nashville

#538 in the United States

#591 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 962
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1876

14. Rhodes College

Memphis

#597 in the United States

#653 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $30,672

15. Austin Peay State University

Clarksville

#624 in the United States

#681 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1077
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 100%

16. Belmont University

Nashville

#627 in the United States

#684 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $36,225

17. Fisk University

Nashville

#642 in the United States

#700 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $20,578

18. King University

Bristol

#709 in the United States

#773 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Net Price: $22,626
Receiving Aid: 87%
Average Aid: $22,715

19. Lipscomb University

Nashville

#763 in the United States

#831 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $27,937

20. Union University

Jackson

#799 in the United States

#867 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $28,585

21. Lee University

Cleveland

#863 in the United States

#931 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $19,726

22. Lincoln Memorial University

Harrogate

#918 in the United States

#986 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1086
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $19,162

23. Carson-Newman University

Jefferson City

#958 in the United States

#1028 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1062
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $20,111

24. Bryan College - Dayton

Dayton

#1057 in the United States

#1129 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $16,752
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $11,977

25. Christian Brothers University

Memphis

#1106 in the United States

#1180 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $18,612
Receiving Aid: 100%

26. Southern Adventist University

Collegedale

#1119 in the United States

#1193 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $24,332

27. Maryville College

Maryville

#1198 in the United States

#1275 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1025
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $21,583

28. Milligan College

Milligan College

#1275 in the United States

#1352 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $19,865
Receiving Aid: 100%

29. Southern College of Optometry

Memphis

#1390 in the United States

#1470 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Enrollment: 532
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1932

30. Tusculum University

Greeneville

#1400 in the United States

#1480 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1010
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $20,414

31. Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville

#1484 in the United States

#1568 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $16,080

32. South College

Knoxville

#1491 in the United States

#1575 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $14,831
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $13,048

33. Cumberland University

Lebanon

#1603 in the United States

#1689 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Net Price: $18,528
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $22,145

34. Freed-Hardeman University

Henderson

#1615 in the United States

#1701 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $18,556

35. Lane College

Jackson

#1629 in the United States

#1715 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $13,370
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $10,154

36. Le Moyne-Owen College

Memphis

#1672 in the United States

#1759 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $6,308
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $11,930

37. American Baptist College

Nashville

#1797 in the United States

#1886 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $17,375
Receiving Aid: 86%
Average Aid: $9,669

38. Tennessee Wesleyan University

Athens

#1805 in the United States

#1894 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1050
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $13,591

39. Welch College

Gallatin

#1836 in the United States

#1925 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $18,966
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $13,736

40. Martin Methodist College

Pulaski

#1852 in the United States

#1941 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1093
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $20,305

41. Memphis Theological Seminary

Memphis

#1862 in the United States

#1951 in North America

Enrollment: 203
Male:Female: 44:56

42. Memphis College of Art

Memphis

#1869 in the United States

#1960 in North America

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

43. Richmont Graduate University

Chattanooga

#1922 in the United States

#2014 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 343
Male:Female: 21:79
Founded: 1933

44. Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences

Memphis

#1926 in the United States

#2018 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $9,549
Receiving Aid: 98%

45. Pentecostal Theological Seminary

Cleveland

#1960 in the United States

#2053 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 565
Male:Female: 62:38

46. Omega Graduate School

Dayton

#2017 in the United States

#2110 in North America

Enrollment: 77
Male:Female: 55:45

47. Hiwassee College

Madisonville

#2027 in the United States

#2120 in North America

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

48. Bethel University - Tennessee

McKenzie

#2040 in the United States

#2133 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1029
Average ACT: 19
Net Price: $13,858

49. Aquinas College, Tennessee

Nashville

#2140 in the United States

#2236 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 1961

50. Huntington University of Health Sciences

Knoxville

#2199 in the United States

#2297 in North America

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

51. Nossi College of Art

Nashville

#2214 in the United States

#2312 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Net Price: $24,206
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $2,701

52. Watkins College of Art Design & Film

Nashville

#2215 in the United States

#2313 in North America

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

53. Visible Music College

Memphis

#2222 in the United States

#2321 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $23,636
Receiving Aid: 86%

54. Williamson Christian College

Franklin

#2300 in the United States

#2401 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $10,299
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $14,001

55. Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Inc

Nashville

#2358 in the United States

#2459 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 295
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1950

56. Mid-South Christian College

Memphis

#2373 in the United States

#2474 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $10,924
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $9,568

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Kentucky	38	60
Alabama	33	84
Georgia	63	44
Indiana	55	39
Mississippi	18	133
South Carolina	37	87
Illinois	100	15
North Carolina	65	24
Arkansas	24	127
Ohio	90	18
West Virginia	26	112
Missouri	67	38
Virginia	63	41
Louisiana	27	79
District of Columbia	15	56
Maryland	34	9
Iowa	39	47
Pennsylvania	155	12
Michigan	62	3
Florida	109	22
Delaware	5	90
Wisconsin	47	13
Oklahoma	31	100
Kansas	32	75
New Jersey	47	23
New York	221	4
Minnesota	48	14
Connecticut	28	11
Nebraska	23	68
Rhode Island	12	49
Massachusetts	88	1
Texas	119	26
Vermont	17	109
South Dakota	15	233
New Hampshire	16	77
Colorado	38	46
North Dakota	14	182
Maine	19	152
New Mexico	12	81
Wyoming	1	141
Utah	20	40
Montana	12	153
Arizona	25	34
Idaho	10	148
Nevada	10	130
Puerto Rico	52	373
US Virgin Islands	1	811
California	249	2
Oregon	31	63
Washington	57	8
Alaska	6	181
Hawaii	10	160
American Samoa	1	1702
Northern Mariana Islands	1	1594
Guam	2	614

Closest to Tennessee states