Colleges in Tennessee

At a Glance Admission, Tuition, Population, and more Updated: May 14, 2026 collegetuitioncompare

Tennessee has 156 colleges and universities. 150 schools offer undergraduate programs and 52 schools offer graduate programs. In Tennessee, there are 5 ABA-accredited law schools and 5 LCME-accredited medical schools.

By school type, 49 public and 107 private colleges are active for the academic year 2024-2025 in Tennessee. By school level, there are 62 4-Years Colleges, 50 Community Colleges, and 44 Technical Colleges in Tennessee. 4-Years Colleges Community Colleges Technical Colleges Total 62 50 44 Public 13 36 0 Private (not-for-profit) 42 4 1 Private (for-profit) 7 10 43 View Detailed Stats

Average Tuition & Fees

For 4-year colleges, the average undergraduate tuition & fees are $10,806 for Tennessee residents and $19,853 for out-of-state students. For graduate programs, the average tuition & fees are $12,274 for Tennessee residents and $21,996 for out-of-state students. View Detailed Stats

4-Year Colleges Tuition

Over the past 5 years, 4-year college tuition has increased -4.6% for in-state and -11% for out-of-state students at public schools. At private schools, the tuition has increased 17.6%. See the detailed tuition history below. Tennessee Colleges Tuition & Fees Public Schools Private Schools TN Residents Out-of-State 2021 $11,327 $22,300 $22,559 2022 $9,921 $19,738 $22,484 2023 $9,968 $19,692 $22,887 2024 $10,201 $19,439 $24,645 2025 $10,806 $19,853 $26,524 View Detailed Stats

Community Colleges Tuition

Over the past 5 years, community college tuition has increased 9.8% for in-state and 4.6% for out-of-state students at public schools. Tennessee Community Colleges Tuition & Fees Public Schools Private Schools TN Residents Out-of-State 2021 $4,365 $17,060 $13,319 2022 $4,465 $17,362 $12,924 2023 $4,441 $17,321 $13,421 2024 $4,581 $17,831 $12,900 2025 $4,792 $17,837 $13,173 View Detailed Stats

Graduate Schools Tuition

The graduate tuition has increased 9.9% for in-state and 3.1% for out-of-state students over the past 5 years At private graduate schools, the tuition has increased 1.9%. Tennessee Graduate Schools Tuition & Fees Public Schools Private Schools TN Residents Out-of-State 2021 $11,173 $21,330 $18,407 2022 $11,498 $22,049 $18,830 2023 $11,408 $21,801 $19,238 2024 $11,687 $21,722 $19,237 2025 $12,274 $21,996 $18,754 View Detailed Stats

Living Costs

The average living costs at Tennessee colleges are $15,428 when a student lives on-campus and $17,296 when living-off campus. On-campus living costs have increased 14.9% and off-campus costs have increased 25.9% over the past 5 years. Living Costs at Tennessee Colleges On-Campus Off-Campus 2021 $13,430 $13,736 2022 $13,862 $14,180 2023 $14,336 $15,186 2024 $14,738 $16,421 2025 $15,428 $17,296 View Detailed Stats

Admission & SAT Scores

On average, 69.4% of applicants are admitted to Tennessee colleges. The admission rate ranges from 5.9% to 100.0% across colleges in Tennessee. The average SAT score at Tennessee colleges is 1,159. SAT scores range from 920 to 1,540 across colleges in Tennessee.

Financial Aid

On average, 75.80% students have received grants and/or scholarships at Tennessee colleges. The average amount of aid received is $8,695 Check by School

Enrollment

A total of 357,929 students is attending Tennessee colleges - 302,686 undergraduate and 54,727 graduate students. Of them, 65,487 students enrolled in online programs exclusively. Total Number of Students 357,929 Undergraduate 302,686 Graduate 54,727 Online Students 65,487 Compare Schools

Faculty & Staff

A total of 26,879 faculties (instructional staffs) are working for colleges in Tennessee and the average faculty salary is $62,954. There are 66,878 non-instructional staffs and its average salary is $59,616. Number of Faculties 26,879 Average Faculty Salary $62,954 Number of Staffs 66,878 Average Staff Salary $59,616 Faculty/Staff Salary

Best Tennessee colleges

Vanderbilt University is ranked #1 in the Tennessee college rankings, followed by Lipscomb University in second place. #1. Vanderbilt University #2. Lipscomb University #3. Belmont University #4. Milligan University #5. Freed-Hardeman University Full Rankings

Highest Tuition & Fees

Vanderbilt University is the most expensive college in Tennessee with a tuition & fees of $67,498 and Rhodes College has the second-highest tuition & fees of $57,110. #1. Vanderbilt University $67,498 #2. Rhodes College $57,110 #3. The University of the South $56,120 #4. Casa Loma College - Nashville $47,355 #5. Belmont University $42,540 Full Rankings

Highest Graduate Tuition

For graduate programs, Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Inc requires the most expensive tuition & fees of $90,000 and Vanderbilt University has the second-highest graduate tuition & fees of $57,868. #1. Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Inc $90,000 #2. Vanderbilt University $57,868 #3. Rhodes College $57,110 #4. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville $34,760 #5. Memphis College of Art $34,690 Full Rankings

Highest SAT Scores

Vanderbilt University has the highest SAT scores of 1,540 submitted by enrolled students and Fisk University has the second-highest SAT score of 1,420. #1. Vanderbilt University SAT Score: 1540 #2. Fisk University SAT Score: 1420 #3. Rhodes College SAT Score: 1385 #4. The University of the South SAT Score: 1330 #5. Union University SAT Score: 1290 Full Rankings

Largest Tennessee colleges

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is the largest college with 38,728 students and Middle Tennessee State University has the second-most students of 20,488. #1. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville 38,728 students #2. Middle Tennessee State University 20,488 students #3. University of Memphis 20,276 students #4. East Tennessee State University 13,728 students #5. Vanderbilt University 13,575 students Full Rankings

Largest Online colleges

South College has the most online students of 6,092 students and University of Memphis has the second-most online students of 5,051. #1. South College 6,092 online enrollment #2. University of Memphis 5,051 online enrollment #3. Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga 4,138 online enrollment #4. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville 3,176 online enrollment #5. Middle Tennessee State University 3,076 online enrollment Full Rankings

	4-Years Colleges	Community Colleges	Technical Colleges
Total	62	50	44
Public	13	36	0
Private (not-for-profit)	42	4	1
Private (for-profit)	7	10	43

Tennessee Colleges Tuition & Fees
	Public Schools	Private Schools
2021	$11,327	$22,300	$22,559
2022	$9,921	$19,738	$22,484
2023	$9,968	$19,692	$22,887
2024	$10,201	$19,439	$24,645
2025	$10,806	$19,853	$26,524

Tennessee Community Colleges Tuition & Fees
	Public Schools	Private Schools
2021	$4,365	$17,060	$13,319
2022	$4,465	$17,362	$12,924
2023	$4,441	$17,321	$13,421
2024	$4,581	$17,831	$12,900
2025	$4,792	$17,837	$13,173

Tennessee Graduate Schools Tuition & Fees
	Public Schools	Private Schools
2021	$11,173	$21,330	$18,407
2022	$11,498	$22,049	$18,830
2023	$11,408	$21,801	$19,238
2024	$11,687	$21,722	$19,237
2025	$12,274	$21,996	$18,754

Living Costs at Tennessee Colleges

2021	$13,430	$13,736
2022	$13,862	$14,180
2023	$14,336	$15,186
2024	$14,738	$16,421
2025	$15,428	$17,296

	Public Schools		Private Schools
	TN Residents	Out-of-State	Private Schools
2021	$11,327	$22,300	$22,559
2022	$9,921	$19,738	$22,484
2023	$9,968	$19,692	$22,887
2024	$10,201	$19,439	$24,645
2025	$10,806	$19,853	$26,524

2025-26 Statistics