The average acceptance rate of the 21 private Tennessee colleges that have competitive admission is 65.55% for the academic year 2024-2025. Compared to last year, the acceptance rate is higher by 0.84%. The acceptance rate at 11 private Tennessee colleges increased and the rate of 10 colleges decreased.
Vanderbilt University has the lowest (i.e. hard to admit) acceptance rate of 5.86%. Fisk University (37.42%) and Rhodes College (50.35%) are following it in the list of Tightest Tennessee Private Colleges to Get In.
This ranking is only based on acceptance rates and more admission stats such as SAT and ACT scores are helpful to measure the chances to get in more accurately.
Vanderbilt University stays at first place of the lowest acceptance rate ranking since last year. Fisk University ranked 2nd, up 5 places from 7th last year.
The average undergraduate tuition & fees of the schools is $37,566 and graduate tuition & fees is $24,911 for the academic year 2024-2025.
We note that the actual tightness of admission lies in considering other admission requirements such as SAT score.| School Name | Acceptance Rate | Yield | SAT Score | Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | Total Population | Graduation Rate | Students to Faculty Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TNPrivate, 4-year | 5.86% 0.42% | 61.23% | 1,540 | $67,498 | 13,575 | 94.00% | 8 to 1 |
| 2 5 | Fisk University Nashville, TNPrivate, 4-year | 37.42% 20.49% | 8.75% | 1,420 | $25,858 | 1,059 | 30.00% | 12 to 1 |
| 3 - | Rhodes College Memphis, TNPrivate, 4-year | 50.35% 0.67% | 12.11% | 1,385 | $57,110 | 1,861 | 85.00% | 9 to 1 |
| 4 - | The University of the South Sewanee, TNPrivate, 4-year | 56.90% 6.00% | 17.86% | 1,330 | $56,120 | 1,724 | 80.00% | 9 to 1 |
| 5 14 | Freed-Hardeman University Henderson, TNPrivate, 4-year | 59.68% 30.94% | 36.42% | 1,020 | $25,620 | 2,306 | 71.00% | 10 to 1 |
| 6 15 | Bethel University McKenzie, TNPrivate, 4-year | 60.23% 36.94% | 32.18% | 920 | $18,712 | 2,936 | 35.00% | 15 to 1 |
| 7 5 | Union University Jackson, TNPrivate, 4-year | 60.41% 13.23% | 30.08% | 1,290 | $37,398 | 2,713 | 66.00% | 9 to 1 |
| 8 2 | Maryville College Maryville, TNPrivate, 4-year | 60.92% 4.76% | 13.63% | - | $39,284 | 1,136 | 50.00% | 12 to 1 |
| 9 1 | Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate, TNPrivate, 4-year | 62.59% 3.32% | 15.83% | 1,100 | $26,938 | 6,081 | 50.00% | 10 to 1 |
| 10 5 | Johnson University Knoxville, TNPrivate, 4-year | 65.11% 11.34% | 32.30% | 1,040 | $21,122 | 978 | 57.00% | 12 to 1 |
| Average | 51.95% | 26.04% | 1,227 | $37,566 | 3,437 | 61.80% | 11 to 1 |