20 Best colleges for Astrophysics and Astronomy in Tennessee

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Tennessee ranked based on their research performance in Astrophysics and Astronomy. A graph of 885K citations received by 25.4K academic papers made by 20 universities in Tennessee was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Vanderbilt University

Nashville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#63 in the United States

#73 in North America

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

2. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Knoxville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#65 in the United States

#75 in North America

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

3. University of Memphis

Memphis

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#200 in the United States

#228 in North America

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

4. University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Memphis

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#210 in the United States

#238 in North America

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

5. Tennessee State University

Nashville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#230 in the United States

#262 in North America

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

6. East Tennessee State University

Johnson

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#255 in the United States

#291 in North America

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

7. Johnson University

Knoxville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#318 in the United States

#359 in North America

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

8. Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#323 in the United States

#364 in North America

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

9. Fisk University

Nashville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#366 in the United States

#411 in North America

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

10. Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#370 in the United States

#415 in North America

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

11. University of Tennessee - Chattanooga

Chattanooga

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#406 in the United States

#454 in North America

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

12. Rhodes College

Memphis

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#508 in the United States

#561 in North America

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

13. Austin Peay State University

Clarksville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#624 in the United States

#680 in North America

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

14. University of the South

Sewanee

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#626 in the United States

#683 in North America

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

15. King University

Bristol

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#675 in the United States

#736 in North America

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

16. Meharry Medical College

Nashville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#754 in the United States

#818 in North America

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

17. South College

Knoxville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#773 in the United States

#837 in North America

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

18. Belmont University

Nashville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#816 in the United States

#882 in North America

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

19. Bryan College - Dayton

Dayton

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#901 in the United States

#969 in North America

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

20. University of Tennessee - Martin

Martin

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#912 in the United States

#980 in North America

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

Closest to Tennessee states to learn Astrophysics and Astronomy

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Kentucky	13	68
Alabama	16	91
Georgia	25	32
Indiana	20	33
Mississippi	7	161
South Carolina	14	97
Illinois	36	10
North Carolina	25	45
Arkansas	9	142
Ohio	35	21
West Virginia	6	107
Missouri	16	44
Virginia	29	36
Louisiana	17	64
District of Columbia	8	101
Maryland	18	14
Iowa	11	53
Pennsylvania	64	12
Michigan	21	8
Florida	27	29
Wisconsin	21	19
Oklahoma	9	71
Kansas	10	82
New Jersey	18	6
New York	85	9
Minnesota	21	28
Connecticut	18	22
Nebraska	7	93
Rhode Island	6	51
Massachusetts	48	4
Texas	53	15
Vermont	4	169
South Dakota	7	239
New Hampshire	8	75
Colorado	14	20
North Dakota	3	206
Maine	7	202
New Mexico	6	69
Utah	6	50
Montana	4	109
Arizona	5	7
Idaho	4	171
Puerto Rico	6	305
California	73	1
Oregon	14	74
Washington	16	11
Alaska	3	117
Hawaii	4	61