Colleges in Tennessee
All 88 degree-granting colleges in Tennessee, sorted by published in-state tuition. Click any column header to re-sort.
Colleges
88
26 public
Cheapest
$2,596
Pentecostal Theological Se
Median
$15,564
in-state, per year
Most expensive
$60,348
Vanderbilt University
Cities
34
with colleges
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive college in Tennessee is $57,752 per year — about $231,008 over a four-year degree.
All 88 colleges, cheapest first
| College | In-state | Out-of-state | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pentecostal Theological SeminaryPrivateCleveland · Less than 2-year | $2,596 | $2,596 | Private nonprofit |
| 2 | Nashville State Community CollegePublicNashville · 2-year | $4,372 | $4,372 | Public |
| 3 | Jackson State Community CollegePublicJackson · 2-year | $4,396 | $4,396 | Public |
| 4 | Walters State Community CollegePublicMorristown · 2-year | $4,399 | $4,399 | Public |
| 5 | Cleveland State Community CollegePublicCleveland · 2-year | $4,400 | $4,400 | Public |
| 6 | Volunteer State Community CollegePublicGallatin · 2-year | $4,404 | $4,404 | Public |
| 7 | Dyersburg State Community CollegePublicDyersburg · 2-year | $4,410 | $4,410 | Public |
| 8 | Motlow State Community CollegePublicTullahoma · 2-year | $4,416 | $4,416 | Public |
| 9 | Northeast State Community CollegePublicBlountville · 2-year | $4,422 | $4,422 | Public |
| 10 | Chattanooga State Community CollegePublicChattanooga · 2-year | $4,430 | $4,430 | Public |
| 11 | Southwest Tennessee Community CollegePublicMemphis · 2-year | $4,430 | $4,430 | Public |
| 12 | Pellissippi State Community CollegePublicKnoxville · 2-year | $4,456 | $4,456 | Public |
| 13 | Columbia State Community CollegePublicColumbia · 2-year | $4,480 | $4,480 | Public |
| 14 | Roane State Community CollegePublicHarriman · 2-year | $4,724 | $4,724 | Public |
| 15 | Huntington University of Health SciencesFor-profitKnoxville · Less than 2-year | $8,242 | $8,242 | Private for-profit |
| 16 | Tennessee State UniversityPublicHBCUNashville · Less than 2-year | $8,336 | $8,336 | Public |
| 17 | Austin Peay State UniversityPublicClarksville · Less than 2-year | $8,431 | $8,431 | Public |
| 18 | Middle Tennessee State UniversityPublicMurfreesboro · Less than 2-year | $9,232 | $9,232 | Public |
| 19 | East Tennessee State UniversityPublicJohnson City · Less than 2-year | $9,438 | $9,438 | Public |
| 20 | William R Moore College of TechnologyPrivateMemphis · 2-year | $9,678 | $9,678 | Private nonprofit |
| 21 | Tennessee Technological UniversityPublicCookeville · Less than 2-year | $9,802 | $9,802 | Public |
| 22 | The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaPublicChattanooga · Less than 2-year | $9,848 | $9,848 | Public |
| 23 | The University of Tennessee-MartinPublicMartin · Less than 2-year | $9,912 | $9,912 | Public |
| 24 | University of MemphisPublicMemphis · Less than 2-year | $10,056 | $10,056 | Public |
| 25 | The University of Tennessee SouthernPublicPulaski · Less than 2-year | $10,200 | $10,200 | Public |
| 26 | Chattanooga College Medical Dental and Technical CareersFor-profitChattanooga · 2-year | $10,690 | $10,690 | Private for-profit |
| 27 | Mid-South Christian CollegePrivateMemphis · Less than 2-year | $11,038 | $11,038 | Private nonprofit |
| 28 | The University of Tennessee Health Science CenterPublicMemphis · Less than 2-year | $11,153 | $11,153 | Public |
| 29 | John A Gupton CollegePrivateNashville · 2-year | $11,735 | $11,735 | Private nonprofit |
| 30 | Lane CollegePrivateHBCUJackson · Less than 2-year | $11,790 | $11,790 | Private nonprofit |
| 31 | Le Moyne-Owen CollegePrivateHBCUMemphis · Less than 2-year | $12,076 | $12,076 | Private nonprofit |
| 32 | American Baptist CollegePrivateHBCUNashville · Less than 2-year | $12,474 | $12,474 | Private nonprofit |
| 33 | Baptist Health Sciences UniversityPrivateMemphis · Less than 2-year | $13,078 | $13,078 | Private nonprofit |
| 34 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvillePublicKnoxville · Less than 2-year | $13,244 | $13,244 | Public |
| 35 | Strayer University-TennesseeFor-profitMemphis · Less than 2-year | $13,515 | $13,515 | Private for-profit |
| 36 | DeVry University-TennesseeFor-profitNashville · Less than 2-year | $15,032 | $15,032 | Private for-profit |
| 37 | Williamson Christian CollegePrivateFranklin · Less than 2-year | $15,560 | $15,560 | Private nonprofit |
| 38 | Remington College-KnoxvillePrivateKnoxville · Less than 2-year | $15,564 | $15,564 | Private nonprofit |
| 39 | Fortis Institute-NashvilleFor-profitNashville · 2-year | $16,035 | $16,035 | Private for-profit |
| 40 | Fortis Institute-CookevilleFor-profitCookeville · 2-year | $16,237 | $16,237 | Private for-profit |
| 41 | Bethel UniversityPrivateMcKenzie · Less than 2-year | $16,871 | $16,871 | Private nonprofit |
| 42 | SAE Institute of Technology-NashvilleFor-profitNashville · Less than 2-year | $17,194 | $17,194 | Private for-profit |
| 43 | South CollegeFor-profitKnoxville · Less than 2-year | $17,335 | $17,335 | Private for-profit |
| 44 | Galen Health Institutes-Nashville CampusFor-profitNashville · Less than 2-year | $17,700 | $17,700 | Private for-profit |
| 45 | Bryan College-DaytonPrivateDayton · Less than 2-year | $17,900 | $17,900 | Private nonprofit |
| 46 | Nossi College of ArtFor-profitNashville · Less than 2-year | $19,150 | $19,150 | Private for-profit |
| 47 | Johnson UniversityPrivateKnoxville · Less than 2-year | $19,274 | $19,274 | Private nonprofit |
| 48 | Union UniversityPrivateJackson · Less than 2-year | $19,363 | $19,363 | Private nonprofit |
| 49 | Remington College-Memphis CampusPrivateMemphis · Less than 2-year | $19,964 | $19,964 | Private nonprofit |
| 50 | Visible Music CollegePrivateMemphis · Less than 2-year | $20,000 | $20,000 | Private nonprofit |
| 51 | Hussian College-Daymar College ClarksvilleFor-profitClarksville · Less than 2-year | $20,110 | $20,110 | Private for-profit |
| 52 | Welch CollegePrivateGallatin · Less than 2-year | $20,170 | $20,170 | Private nonprofit |
| 53 | Remington College-Nashville CampusPrivateNashville · 2-year | $21,147 | $21,147 | Private nonprofit |
| 54 | Lee UniversityPrivateCleveland · Less than 2-year | $21,730 | $21,730 | Private nonprofit |
| 55 | Hussian College-Daymar College NashvilleFor-profitNashville · Less than 2-year | $22,225 | $22,225 | Private for-profit |
| 56 | Hussian College-Daymar College MurfreesboroFor-profitMurfreesboro · Less than 2-year | $22,851 | $22,851 | Private for-profit |
| 57 | Fisk UniversityPrivateHBCUNashville · Less than 2-year | $23,578 | $23,578 | Private nonprofit |
| 58 | Southern Adventist UniversityPrivateCollegedale · Less than 2-year | $23,870 | $23,870 | Private nonprofit |
| 59 | Freed-Hardeman UniversityPrivateHenderson · Less than 2-year | $24,300 | $24,300 | Private nonprofit |
| 60 | Lincoln Memorial UniversityPrivateHarrogate · Less than 2-year | $25,180 | $25,180 | Private nonprofit |
| 61 | Cumberland UniversityPrivateLebanon · Less than 2-year | $26,400 | $26,400 | Private nonprofit |
| 62 | Tusculum UniversityPrivateGreeneville · Less than 2-year | $27,208 | $27,208 | Private nonprofit |
| 63 | Tennessee Wesleyan UniversityPrivateAthens · Less than 2-year | $27,350 | $27,350 | Private nonprofit |
| 64 | Trevecca Nazarene UniversityPrivateNashville · Less than 2-year | $28,500 | $28,500 | Private nonprofit |
| 65 | Carson-Newman UniversityPrivateJefferson City · Less than 2-year | $33,000 | $33,000 | Private nonprofit |
| 66 | King UniversityPrivateBristol · Less than 2-year | $33,784 | $33,784 | Private nonprofit |
| 67 | Christian Brothers UniversityPrivateMemphis · Less than 2-year | $35,520 | $35,520 | Private nonprofit |
| 68 | Lipscomb UniversityPrivateNashville · Less than 2-year | $37,152 | $37,152 | Private nonprofit |
| 69 | Milligan UniversityPrivateMilligan · Less than 2-year | $37,550 | $37,550 | Private nonprofit |
| 70 | Maryville CollegePrivateMaryville · Less than 2-year | $37,758 | $37,758 | Private nonprofit |
| 71 | Belmont UniversityPrivateNashville · Less than 2-year | $39,850 | $39,850 | Private nonprofit |
| 72 | The University of the SouthPrivateSewanee · Less than 2-year | $51,135 | $51,135 | Private nonprofit |
| 73 | Rhodes CollegePrivateMemphis · Less than 2-year | $52,310 | $52,310 | Private nonprofit |
| 74 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivateNashville · Less than 2-year | $60,348 | $60,348 | Private nonprofit |
| 75 | Concorde Career College-MemphisFor-profitMemphis · 2-year | — | — | Private for-profit |
| 76 | Lincoln College of Technology-NashvilleFor-profitNashville · 2-year | — | — | Private for-profit |
| 77 | Meharry Medical CollegePrivateHBCUNashville · Less than 2-year | — | — | Private nonprofit |
| 78 | Memphis Theological SeminaryPrivateMemphis · Less than 2-year | — | — | Private nonprofit |
| 79 | Meridian Institute of Surgical AssistingFor-profitNashville · 2-year | — | — | Private for-profit |
| 80 | Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia IncPrivateMadison · Less than 2-year | — | — | Private nonprofit |
| 81 | Miller-Motte College-ChattanoogaFor-profitChattanooga · Less than 2-year | — | — | Private for-profit |
| 82 | Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga 2For-profitChattanooga · 2-year | — | — | Private for-profit |
| 83 | North Central InstituteFor-profitClarksville · 2-year | — | — | Private for-profit |
| 84 | Omega Graduate SchoolPrivateDayton · Less than 2-year | — | — | Private nonprofit |
| 85 | Richmont Graduate UniversityPrivateChattanooga · Less than 2-year | — | — | Private nonprofit |
| 86 | Southern College of OptometryPrivateMemphis · Less than 2-year | — | — | Private nonprofit |
| 87 | Tennessee Board of RegentsPublicNashville · 2-year | — | — | Public |
| 88 | The University of Tennessee System OfficePublicKnoxville · Less than 2-year | — | — | Public |
By city
Questions
What is the cheapest college in Tennessee?
Pentecostal Theological Seminary in Cleveland, at $2,596 per year for in-state students. The next cheapest are Nashville State Community College ($4,372), Jackson State Community College ($4,396), Walters State Community College ($4,399).
How much does college cost in Tennessee?
The median published in-state tuition is $15,564 per year across 74 colleges that reported. Community colleges sit at the low end; private four-year schools at the high end. Remember this is tuition and fees only — housing, food and books are extra.
Public or private — which is cheaper?
Public colleges usually have a much lower sticker price for state residents because taxpayers subsidize them. But private colleges often give larger scholarships, so the net price can end up similar. Always compare after aid, not before.
Do I have to live in Tennessee to get in-state tuition?
Generally yes, and the rules are stricter than people expect. Most states require 12 months of residency for reasons other than education, plus proof like a driver's license, voter registration and tax filings. Check the specific school's residency policy.
About this data
Every figure comes from IPEDS 2022 — the survey every U.S. college receiving federal student aid must complete. We list published tuition and fees for full-time undergraduates. Schools that did not report tuition appear at the bottom with a dash. Confirm current pricing on each school's website before applying.