Tennessee State University has the lowest graduation rate, which is the percentage of graduate candidates who complete their degree or certificate within 150 percent of normal time (for example, within 6 years for 4-years BS degree). Its graduatation rate was 34% last year.
Austin Peay State University with 40% and South College with 42% of graduation rates followed it in the ranking of Tennessee Colleges with the Lowest Graduation Rate.
For the ranking, we exclude schools with fewer than 5,000 students.
The average undergraduate tuition & fees of the schools is $19,403 and graduate tuition & fees is $21,044 for the academic year 2024-2025.
At these Low Graduation Rate Tennessee Colleges, the average acceptance rate is 77.98%, and the average SAT score is 1,078, making them not only cost-effective but also accessible options for a wide range of students.
| School Name | Graduation Rate | Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | Yield | Acceptance Rate | SAT Score | Total Population | Students to Faculty Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - | Tennessee State University Nashville, TNPublic, 4-year | 34.00% 1.00% | $22,416 ($8,616) | 12.99% | 70.11% | 960 | 6,310 | 13 to 1 |
| 2 1 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TNPublic, 4-year | 40.00% 4.00% | $14,766 ($9,006) | 27.47% | 96.41% | 1,005 | 10,439 | 14 to 1 |
| 3 1 | South College Knoxville, TNPrivate, 4-year | 42.00% 6.00% | $18,535 | - | - | - | 11,557 | 25 to 1 |
| 4 2 | Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate, TNPrivate, 4-year | 50.00% 3.00% | $26,938 | 15.83% | 62.59% | 1,100 | 6,081 | 10 to 1 |
| 4 2 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga, TNPublic, 4-year | 50.00% 3.00% | $18,512 ($10,448) | 29.25% | 81.09% | 1,100 | 11,775 | 18 to 1 |
| 6 2 | University of Memphis Memphis, TNPublic, 4-year | 51.00% 2.00% | $15,384 ($10,728) | 18.06% | 72.03% | 1,035 | 20,276 | 16 to 1 |
| 7 3 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TNPublic, 4-year | 53.00% 4.00% | $13,726 ($10,216) | 24.68% | 86.19% | 1,080 | 13,728 | 15 to 1 |
| 7 2 | The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin, TNPublic, 4-year | 53.00% 1.00% | $16,600 ($10,560) | 22.76% | 88.20% | 1,110 | 7,499 | 16 to 1 |
| 9 3 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TNPublic, 4-year | 54.00% 1.00% | $31,574 ($10,266) | 30.41% | 69.09% | 1,130 | 20,488 | 17 to 1 |
| 10 1 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TNPublic, 4-year | 58.00% 4.00% | $15,576 ($11,376) | 22.84% | 76.13% | 1,180 | 10,511 | 16 to 1 |
| Average | 48.50% | $19,403 ($10,152) | 22.70% | 77.98% | 1,078 | 11,866 | 16 to 1 |