2025 Average Tuition, Fees, and Living cost in Tennessee Colleges

The average tuition & fees of Tennessee colleges is $7,548 for Tennessee residents and $18,761 for students from other States.

Vanderbilt University has the highest (most expensive) tuition & fees of $67,498 and Omega Graduate School has the lowest tuition & fees (cheapest) of $6,550.

For graduate programs, Vanderbilt University has the highest (most expensive) graduate tuition & fees of $67,498 and Mid-South Christian College has the lowest graduate tuition & fees (cheapest) of $11,990 in Tennessee.

2025 cost of Attendance (COA)

The average COA of Tennessee 4-year colleges in 2025 is $27,500 for Tennessee residents and $36,547 for students from other states. The COA includes tuition & fees, books & supplies, room & board, and other living expenses, but it excludes health insurance fee and uncommon expenses.

Table. 2025 Average cost of Attendance for Tennessee Colleges (4-Years)
UndergraduateGraduate
In-StateOut-of-StateIn-StateOut-of-State
Tuition & Fees $10,806$19,853 $11,968$20,806
Books & Supplies$1,266$1,266
Room & Board$15,428$15,428
COA$27,500$36,547$28,663$37,501

Undergraduate Tuition & Fees

In Tennessee, 134 schools offer undergraduate programs. The average undergraduate tuition & fees of Tennessee colleges is $7,548 for Tennessee residents and $18,761 for out-of-state students for the academic year 2024-2025.

The Tennessee tuition & fees have risen 2.13% from last year (4 years colleges).

The following table and chart describe the 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees trends over last 5 years in 4-years and 2-4 years (community colleges) colleges.

You may want to compare Tennessee schools with tuition changes from last year at Tennessee colleges tuition change page.

2025 Average Undergraduate Tuition & Fees for Tennessee Colleges
Public SchoolsPrivate Schools
4 Years or High2-4 Years4 Years or High2-4 Years
In-StateOut-of-StateIn-StateOut-of-State
2021 $11,327$22,300 $4,365$17,060 $23,000$14,223
2022 $9,921$19,738 $4,465$17,362 $23,239$14,392
2023 $9,968$19,692 $4,441$17,321 $23,623$15,799
2024 $10,201$19,439 $4,581$17,831 $24,800$15,479
2025 $10,806$19,853 $4,792$17,837 $25,660$14,339

Expensive Tennessee Colleges (Highest Undergraduate Tuition)

Vanderbilt University$67,498
Rhodes College$57,110
The University of the South$56,120
Casa Loma College - Nashville$47,355
Belmont University$42,540

Inexpensive Tennessee Colleges (Lowest Undergraduate Tuition)

Omega Graduate School$6,550
Pentecostal Theological Seminary$9,864
The University of Tennessee Southern$10,924
Memphis Theological Seminary$11,520
Lane College$11,790
*Based on out-of-state tuition rates of 4-year colleges

Graduate Program Tuition & Fees

46 Tennessee colleges offer graduate programs. The average graduate program tuition fees of Tennessee colleges is $11,968 for Tennessee residents and $20,806 for students from other States. The graduate tuition & fees rose 101.21% from last year.

The following table and chart describe the 2025 graduate tuition & fees and show last 5 years' tuition change.

2025 Average Graduate Tuition & Fees for Tennessee Universities and Colleges
Public SchoolsPrivate Schools
In-StateOut-of-State
2021 $10,967$20,201$17,066
2022 $11,263$20,854$17,240
2023 $11,181$20,629$17,545
2024 $11,434$20,557$17,462
2025 $11,968$20,806$17,407

Expensive Graduate Schools in Tennessee

Vanderbilt University$57,868
Rhodes College$57,110
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville$34,760
Meharry Medical College$32,805
Middle Tennessee State University$29,700

Inexpensive Graduate Schools in Tennessee

Mid-South Christian College$3,980
Omega Graduate School$7,050
Williamson Christian College$7,615
Cumberland University$8,280
Johnson University$8,305
*Based on out-of-state tuition rates of 4-year colleges

Books & Supplies cost

The average books & supplies cost of Tennessee colleges in 2025 is $1,266. The books & supplies cost rose 97.36% from last year. The following table and chart describes the 2025 books & supplies cost and cost changes over last 5 years.

2025 Average Books & Supplies cost for Tennessee Universities and Colleges
Books & Supplies
2021$1,423
2022$1,382
2023$1,337
2024$1,301
2025$1,266

Average Living cost

The average living cost of Tennessee colleges in 2025 is $15,428 when a student lives on campus such as dormitory and college apartment and $16,938 living off campus. 46 schools have on-campus living facilities in Tennessee State. The on-campus living cost rose 104.68% and off-campus cost rose 103.22% from last year.

The following table and chart describes the 2025 living cost and compares to last 5 years.

2025 Average Living cost for Tennessee Universities and Colleges
On-CampusOff-Campus
2021$13,503$13,740
2022$13,947$14,229
2023$14,336$15,110
2024$14,738$16,409
2025$15,428$16,938
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