The average graduation rate of Tennessee colleges is 59.67%. It means that 59.67% of students have completed their studies within 150% of program length.
For the bachelor's degree (BS) in 4-year Tennessee colleges, the average graduation rate is 50.93%, which means 50.93% of students earned BS degree in 6 years after enrolling first year.
In Tennessee 2-year institutions (i.e. community colleges), the average graduation rate is 58.46%.
For Tennessee colleges, Vanderbilt University has the highest graduation rate of 93.54% among 4-year colleges. For Tennessee community colleges, North Central Institute has the highest graduation rate of 100.00%.
The following table compares graduation rates between Tennessee colleges. For 4-year colleges, the rates are based on the time it takes to earn a bachelor's degree, which typically requires 4 years of study. Therefore, 100% normal time means 4-year, 125% normal time means 5-years, and the 150% normal time means 6 years.
For community colleges (2-4 year schools) and trade schools, the completion time to measure graduation rates vary depending on the length of the program. For example, 150% normal time for 1-year certificate programs is 18 months and 3 years for 2-years associate degree.
| School | Graduation Rate (Completers) | Transfer-out Rate | Retention Rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In 100% Normal Time | In 125% Normal Time | In 150% Normal Time | |||
| American Baptist College4-Year College, private | 27.78% | 38.89% | 38.89% | 39% | 100% |
| Arnolds Beauty SchoolTrade School | 34.88% | - | 76.74% | - | 86% |
| TCAT AthensCommunity College | 94.79% | - | 94.79% | 4% | 78% |
| Austin Peay State University4-Year College, public | 27.29% | 38.04% | 38.57% | - | 70% |
| Baptist Health Sciences University4-Year College, private | 22.45% | 35.71% | 37.76% | 37% | 53% |
| Belmont University4-Year College, private | 60.90% | 69.23% | 70.44% | - | 87% |
| Bethel University4-Year College, private | 13.73% | 16.42% | 16.91% | - | 54% |
| Bryan College-Dayton4-Year College, private | 45.41% | 50.27% | 50.27% | - | 71% |
| Carson-Newman University4-Year College, private | 45.20% | 50.51% | 52.53% | 5% | 74% |
| Chattanooga State Community CollegeCommunity College | 14.83% | - | 25.93% | 14% | 57% |
| Christian Brothers University4-Year College, private | 41.48% | 52.67% | 54.71% | 25% | 75% |
| Pentecostal Theological Seminary4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Austin's Beauty College IncTrade School | 68.18% | - | 68.18% | - | 75% |
| Cleveland State Community CollegeCommunity College | 24.50% | - | 36.75% | 12% | 52% |
| Columbia State Community CollegeCommunity College | 17.99% | - | 29.63% | 17% | 55% |
| Concorde Career College-MemphisCommunity College | 33.96% | - | 55.32% | - | 67% |
| Cumberland University4-Year College, private | 28.34% | 40.11% | 41.71% | 14% | 59% |
| Lipscomb University4-Year College, private | 62.48% | 70.95% | 72.16% | - | 84% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-DicksonCommunity College | 63.79% | - | 74.49% | 2% | 74% |
| Dyersburg State Community CollegeCommunity College | 21.40% | - | 33.54% | 12% | 63% |
| East Tennessee State University4-Year College, public | 39.69% | 50.05% | 53.21% | 22% | 76% |
| Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | 31% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-ElizabethtonCommunity College | 78.33% | - | 81.11% | 2% | 80% |
| The Hair Academy LLCTrade School | 17.65% | - | 85.29% | 15% | 82% |
| Fisk University4-Year College, private | 24.45% | 28.83% | 29.93% | - | 74% |
| Welch College4-Year College, private | 41.46% | 56.10% | 60.98% | 15% | 61% |
| Freed-Hardeman University4-Year College, private | 64.14% | 67.11% | 69.08% | - | 86% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-HarrimanCommunity College | 65.43% | - | 69.14% | 2% | 79% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-HartsvilleCommunity College | 73.20% | - | 82.47% | 2% | 91% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-HohenwaldCommunity College | 46.40% | - | 64.80% | - | 79% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-JacksboroCommunity College | 81.05% | - | 84.21% | - | 98% |
| Jackson State Community CollegeCommunity College | 15.32% | - | 25.85% | 13% | 54% |
| John A Gupton CollegeCommunity College | 15.38% | - | 38.46% | 8% | 69% |
| Johnson University4-Year College, private | 42.86% | 50.71% | 53.57% | 12% | 69% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-MurfreesboroTrade School | 4.17% | - | 75.00% | 2% | 77% |
| King University4-Year College, private | 45.00% | 48.89% | 49.44% | 1% | 60% |
| South College4-Year College, private | 50.00% | 52.94% | 52.94% | 21% | 52% |
| Lane College4-Year College, private | 10.06% | 16.09% | 17.53% | 26% | 44% |
| Le Moyne-Owen College4-Year College, private | 13.49% | 26.19% | 31.75% | - | 47% |
| Lee University4-Year College, private | 50.80% | 61.44% | 62.59% | 24% | 82% |
| Lincoln Memorial University4-Year College, private | 36.64% | 44.27% | 46.95% | - | 72% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-LivingstonCommunity College | 73.89% | - | 77.71% | 2% | 81% |
| The University of Tennessee Southern4-Year College, public | 26.20% | 33.21% | 35.42% | 31% | 77% |
| Maryville College4-Year College, private | 39.01% | 48.58% | 50.00% | 15% | 71% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzieCommunity College | 79.17% | - | 81.25% | 2% | 68% |
| Genesis Career College-CookevilleTrade School | 20.28% | - | 54.45% | - | 63% |
| Meharry Medical College4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MemphisCommunity College | 54.79% | - | 54.79% | 2% | 62% |
| University of Memphis4-Year College, public | 33.44% | 46.89% | 50.89% | 14% | 77% |
| Memphis Theological Seminary4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Middle Tennessee State University4-Year College, public | 35.88% | 49.62% | 53.70% | 23% | 80% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MorristownCommunity College | 79.72% | - | 79.72% | 2% | 76% |
| Motlow State Community CollegeCommunity College | 23.63% | - | 33.56% | 14% | 55% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MurfreesboroCommunity College | 75.23% | - | 76.15% | 2% | 79% |
| Nashville Auto-Diesel CollegeCommunity College | 51.72% | - | 67.70% | - | 73% |
| Nashville State Community CollegeCommunity College | 10.13% | - | 18.46% | 15% | 44% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology NorthwestCommunity College | 68.98% | - | 68.98% | 7% | 64% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Henry/CarrollCommunity College | 73.91% | - | 75.36% | - | 77% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-PulaskiCommunity College | 69.88% | - | 74.70% | 1% | 89% |
| Rhodes College4-Year College, private | 78.82% | 84.35% | 84.53% | 14% | 92% |
| Roane State Community CollegeCommunity College | 22.08% | - | 35.91% | 14% | 58% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology CrumpCommunity College | 55.28% | - | 62.60% | 3% | 74% |
| Southwest Tennessee Community CollegeCommunity College | 9.04% | - | 18.99% | 16% | 46% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-ShelbyvilleCommunity College | 73.61% | - | 80.56% | 1% | 100% |
| The University of the South4-Year College, private | 73.26% | 79.16% | 79.79% | 18% | 89% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Oneida-HuntsvilleCommunity College | 72.46% | - | 73.91% | 1% | 77% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Upper CumberlandCommunity College | 84.13% | - | 84.13% | - | 71% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnvilleCommunity College | 61.54% | - | 66.67% | 4% | 84% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-JacksonCommunity College | 74.59% | - | 79.51% | 2% | 82% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-KnoxvilleCommunity College | 69.19% | - | 71.22% | 3% | 66% |
| Pellissippi State Community CollegeCommunity College | 15.28% | - | 31.49% | 22% | 58% |
| Southern Adventist University4-Year College, private | 34.59% | 50.63% | 54.89% | 1% | 83% |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University4-Year College, private | 35.29% | 46.52% | 47.59% | 33% | 72% |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga4-Year College, public | 34.92% | 47.62% | 50.24% | - | 73% |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville4-Year College, public | 56.68% | 71.63% | 73.92% | 16% | 92% |
| The University of Tennessee-Martin4-Year College, public | 36.51% | 49.24% | 52.54% | 18% | 77% |
| Tennessee School of Beauty of Knoxville IncTrade School | 11.67% | - | 81.67% | - | 55% |
| Tennessee State University4-Year College, public | 21.75% | 30.84% | 34.58% | 2% | 33% |
| Tennessee Technological University4-Year College, public | 41.10% | 54.14% | 57.67% | 20% | 78% |
| Trevecca Nazarene University4-Year College, private | 41.37% | 52.08% | 52.68% | - | 74% |
| Northeast State Community CollegeCommunity College | 19.77% | - | 33.30% | 9% | 59% |
| Tusculum University4-Year College, private | 21.09% | 24.73% | 25.45% | 13% | 63% |
| Union University4-Year College, private | 60.11% | 65.16% | 65.96% | 23% | 89% |
| Vanderbilt University4-Year College, private | 87.20% | 92.60% | 93.54% | - | 96% |
| Volunteer State Community CollegeCommunity College | 18.44% | - | 28.18% | 14% | 51% |
| Walters State Community CollegeCommunity College | 22.11% | - | 33.33% | 11% | 53% |
| William R Moore College of TechnologyCommunity College | 39.71% | - | 50.00% | - | 55% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-KnoxvilleTrade School | 5.56% | - | 44.44% | - | 50% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology NashvilleCommunity College | 62.71% | - | 70.34% | 2% | 85% |
| Nossi College of Art and Design4-Year College, private | 40.16% | 41.80% | 41.80% | - | 88% |
| Mr Wayne's School of Unisex Hair DesignTrade School | 40.00% | - | 74.29% | - | 91% |
| Queen City CollegeTrade School | - | - | - | - | 100% |
| Genesis Career College-LebanonTrade School | 42.47% | - | 58.60% | - | 63% |
| Brillare Beauty InstituteTrade School | 83.72% | - | 83.72% | - | 91% |
| Remington College-Memphis CampusCommunity College | 24.91% | - | 38.43% | - | 40% |
| North Central InstituteCommunity College | 100.00% | - | 100.00% | - | 100% |
| Richmont Graduate University4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Williamson Christian College4-Year College, private | 33.33% | 66.67% | 66.67% | 33% | 50% |
| Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Strayer University-Tennessee4-Year College, private | - | - | - | 17% | 100% |
| Lawrenceburg Technical CollegeTrade School | 21.62% | - | 48.65% | 3% | 70% |
| Remington College-Nashville CampusCommunity College | 34.39% | - | 47.13% | - | 59% |
| SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Visible Music College4-Year College, private | 8.00% | 12.00% | 12.00% | 6% | 67% |
| Elite College of CosmetologyTrade School | 78.95% | - | 78.95% | - | 83% |
| TC BeautyTrade School | 6.00% | - | 88.00% | 6% | 91% |
| Fortis Institute-NashvilleCommunity College | 25.84% | - | 42.70% | - | 43% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-MemphisTrade School | 4.55% | - | 59.09% | - | 77% |
| Love Beauty School IncTrade School | 35.29% | - | 73.53% | - | 98% |
| Empire Beauty School-E MemphisTrade School | - | - | 66.67% | - | 51% |
| Empire Beauty School-NashvilleTrade School | - | - | 72.00% | - | 81% |
| Empire Beauty School-JacksonTrade School | - | - | 41.30% | - | 77% |
| Omega Graduate School4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Meridian Institute of Surgical AssistingCommunity College | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mid-South Christian College4-Year College, private | 40.00% | 60.00% | 60.00% | - | 25% |
| The Salon Professional Academy-NashvilleTrade School | 96.77% | - | 96.77% | - | 86% |
| Franklin Hair Academy School of CosmetologyTrade School | 57.14% | - | 85.71% | - | 80% |
| Vibe Barber CollegeTrade School | 55.56% | - | 88.89% | - | 88% |
| Mind Body InstituteTrade School | 75.00% | - | 75.00% | - | - |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Johnson CityTrade School | 21.43% | - | 64.29% | - | 60% |
| Sandra Academy of Salon ServicesTrade School | 3.33% | - | 33.33% | - | 1% |
| Gould's AcademyTrade School | 8.66% | - | 79.53% | 1% | 88% |
| Ross Medical Education Center-KnoxvilleTrade School | 28.33% | - | 68.33% | - | 56% |
| Milligan University4-Year College, private | 55.43% | 63.43% | 63.43% | 27% | 82% |
| The University of Tennessee Health Science Center4-Year College, public | - | - | - | - | - |
| Image Maker Beauty InstituteTrade School | 30.77% | - | 76.92% | - | 67% |
| Nashville Film InstituteCommunity College | 86.36% | - | 86.36% | - | 77% |
| Allied Health Careers InstituteTrade School | 100.00% | - | 100.00% | - | 36% |
| Master's Barber & Styling CollegeTrade School | - | - | - | - | 70% |
| EduMed PartnersTrade School | - | - | - | - | - |
| Massage Institute of MemphisTrade School | - | - | 100.00% | - | - |
| Gould's AcademyTrade School | 18.60% | - | 83.72% | - | 93% |
| Jersey College - ClevelandCommunity College | - | - | - | - | - |
| Health-Tech Institute of MemphisTrade School | 80.00% | - | 80.00% | - | 100% |
| Fortis Institute-CookevilleCommunity College | 36.00% | - | 50.00% | - | 72% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro-NashvilleTrade School | 14.71% | - | 73.53% | 3% | 79% |
| Jersey College - KnoxvilleCommunity College | - | - | - | - | - |
| Harding School of Theology4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Casa Loma College - Nashville4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-JacksboroTrade School | - | - | - | - | - |
| South College-Nashville4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary- YMCA Outdoor Center4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Strayer University-Nashville Campus4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Strayer University-Shelby Oaks Campus4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Strayer University-Knoxville Campus4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | 62% |
| Academy of Allied Health CareersTrade School | 22.35% | - | 65.29% | - | - |
| Sweetwater Institute of CosmetologyTrade School | 78.43% | - | 78.43% | - | 95% |
| Studio 75 Hair AcademyTrade School | - | - | - | 8% | 100% |
| Relay Graduate School of Education - Memphis4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Relay Graduate School of Education - Nashville4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Herzing University-Nashville4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | 80% |