Best Colleges in Tennessee

Why Should I Consider Studying in Tennessee?

Going to college in Tennessee can provide a great experience of the American South. From the big city experience of Nashville to small town McKenzie, there is something for everyone in The Volunteer State. Tennessee is home to some of the best colleges and universities in the United States including the likes of Vanderbilt University, University of Tennessee, and Rhodes College.

Many of Tennessee’s colleges are located in the three large urban towns of Nashville, Knoxville, and Memphis. Nashville is a vibrant and historic city known for a thriving music and culture scene. For students not too-busy enjoying all that Music City has to offer, Vanderbilt, Belmont University, and Tennessee State University offer a wide range of educational opportunities for students of all interests.

One the quieter side is a school like Bethel University with a student enrollment larger than the town of McKenzie in which it resides. Bethel is in the Northwest portion of Tennessee and surrounded by unique outdoor opportunities with countless lakes, parks, and trails to explore.

Tennessee Higher Education By The Numbers

Colleges in Tennessee

Tennessee has the 11th most colleges in the nation with 143 colleges located there. For some perspective, that's 14 times more colleges than the state with the fewest. 36% of colleges in Tennessee are public, and 64% of its colleges are private. (51 public colleges & 92 private colleges). It has the 11th most public colleges and the 12th most private colleges of any state.

Our favorite public colleges in Tennessee are The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski. Our favorite private colleges are Vanderbilt University, Rhodes College, and The University of the South. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is the largest top 25 college with 32,056 students.

Students in Tennessee

The median state has 314,827 college students. Tennessee has 100,850 more. There are 290,856 public college students and 124,821 private college students in Tennessee. It has fewer public college students than 20 states and fewer private college students than 17 states. Its 415,677 total students make it the 22nd most popular location in the USA. 70% of Tennessee's students attend public institutions which is the 19th lowest percentage across the nation.