Academic Index Last updated: June 12, 2026

60 Best Universities in Tennessee

Discover the top 60 universities in Tennessee with our comprehensive academic index. The algorithmic evaluation processed 699.2K scholarly outputs and 24.14M peer-reviewed citations, mapping the region's total research impact. With a collective network of 199K distinguished alumni, these universities demonstrate significant global reach and career outcomes.

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1

Nashville

Vanderbilt University

#48 in United States #52 in North America

6% Acceptance

7,221 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1873 Founded

2

United States | Ohio

Case Western Reserve University

#74 in North America #68 in United States

37% Acceptance

6,636 Enrollment

1485 Avg SAT

1826 Founded

3

Knoxville

University of Tennessee – Knoxville

#69 in United States #78 in North America

42% Acceptance

30,564 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1794 Founded

4

Memphis

University of Memphis

#175 in United States #199 in North America

72% Acceptance

15,770 Enrollment

1048 Avg SAT

1912 Founded

5

United States | Ohio

Wright State University

#229 in North America #202 in United States

96% Acceptance

7,505 Enrollment

1395 Avg SAT

1964 Founded

6

Memphis

University of Tennessee Health Science Center

#224 in United States #252 in North America

40% Acceptance

3,485 Enrollment

1330 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

7

United States | Ohio

University of Dayton

#254 in North America #225 in United States

65% Acceptance

7,740 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1850 Founded

8

United States | Ohio

Cleveland State University

#265 in North America #235 in United States

91% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1964 Founded

9

Murfreesboro

Middle Tennessee State University

#280 in United States #311 in North America

69% Acceptance

10,204 Enrollment

1120 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

10

Chattanooga

University of Tennessee – Chattanooga

#327 in United States #364 in North America

81% Acceptance

10,204 Enrollment

1112 Avg SAT

1886 Founded

11

Cookeville

Tennessee Technological University

#334 in United States #371 in North America

76% Acceptance

1,070 Enrollment

1179 Avg SAT

1915 Founded

12

Nashville

Tennessee State University

#402 in United States #448 in North America

70% Acceptance

2,708 Enrollment

965 Avg SAT

1912 Founded

13

Sewanee

University of the South

#458 in United States #506 in North America

57% Acceptance

2,708 Enrollment

1325 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

14

Knoxville

Johnson University

#466 in United States #514 in North America

65% Acceptance

3,246 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

1893 Founded

15

Martin

University of Tennessee – Martin

#485 in United States #534 in North America

88% Acceptance

6,809 Enrollment

1090 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

16

Nashville

Meharry Medical College

#521 in United States #573 in North America

10% Acceptance

967 Enrollment

1330 Avg SAT

1876 Founded

17

Nashville

Belmont University

#571 in United States #626 in North America

95% Acceptance

7,175 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

18

Memphis

#576 in United States #631 in North America

50% Acceptance

1,838 Enrollment

1393 Avg SAT

1848 Founded

19

Clarksville

Austin Peay State University

#593 in United States #650 in North America

96% Acceptance

8,791 Enrollment

985 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

20

Nashville

Fisk University

#692 in United States #756 in North America

37% Acceptance

1,035 Enrollment

1325 Avg SAT

1866 Founded

21

Nashville

Lipscomb University

#731 in United States #798 in North America

68% Acceptance

5,186 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

22

Jackson

Union University

#807 in United States #875 in North America

60% Acceptance

1,934 Enrollment

1275 Avg SAT

1823 Founded

23

Harrogate

Lincoln Memorial University

#840 in United States #908 in North America

63% Acceptance

5,382 Enrollment

1105 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

24

Cleveland

#859 in United States #928 in North America

71% Acceptance

5,382 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1918 Founded

25

Jefferson City

Carson-Newman University

#943 in United States #1015 in North America

90% Acceptance

1,596 Enrollment

1085 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

26

Collegedale

Southern Adventist University

#1099 in United States #1174 in North America

65% Acceptance

10,204 Enrollment

1160 Avg SAT

1892 Founded

27

Dayton

Bryan College – Dayton

#1109 in United States #1184 in North America

100% Acceptance

1,565 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1930 Founded

28

Maryville

Maryville College

#1161 in United States #1236 in North America

61% Acceptance

1,132 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1819 Founded

29

Memphis

Christian Brothers University

#1173 in United States #1248 in North America

87% Acceptance

5,324 Enrollment

1200 Avg SAT

1871 Founded

30

United States | Ohio

Cleveland Institute of Art

#1299 in North America #1222 in United States

61% Acceptance

1,989 Enrollment

1130 Avg SAT

1882 Founded

31

Milligan College

Milligan College

#1262 in United States #1340 in North America

72% Acceptance

442 Enrollment

1201 Avg SAT

1866 Founded

32

Greeneville

Tusculum University

#1413 in United States #1497 in North America

72% Acceptance

63,012 Enrollment

1043 Avg SAT

1794 Founded

33

Nashville

Trevecca Nazarene University

#1421 in United States #1505 in North America

69% Acceptance

14,263 Enrollment

1108 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

34

Memphis

Southern College of Optometry

#1449 in United States #1534 in North America

38% Acceptance

474 Enrollment

1080 Avg SAT

1932 Founded

35

Jackson

#1468 in United States #1554 in North America

100% Acceptance

2,412 Enrollment

1048 Avg SAT

1882 Founded

36

Henderson

Freed-Hardeman University

#1475 in United States #1561 in North America

60% Acceptance

1,873 Enrollment

1020 Avg SAT

1869 Founded

37

Knoxville

#1493 in United States #1579 in North America

100% Acceptance

4,473 Enrollment

1025 Avg SAT

1882 Founded

38

United States | Ohio

Cleveland Institute of Music

#1598 in North America #1512 in United States

47% Acceptance

159 Enrollment

1920 Founded

$29,683 Net Price

39

Cumberland University

#1522 in United States #1608 in North America

67% Acceptance

2,745 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1842 Founded

40

United States | Ohio

Notre Dame College

#1611 in North America #1525 in United States

93% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1922 Founded

41

Memphis

Le Moyne-Owen College

#1580 in United States #1666 in North America

99% Acceptance

659 Enrollment

1968 Founded

$6,542 Net Price

42

United States | Ohio

United Theological Seminary

#1749 in North America #1661 in United States

91% Acceptance

151 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

43

Gallatin

#1783 in United States #1872 in North America

100% Acceptance

78 Enrollment

1190 Avg SAT

1942 Founded

44

Nashville

American Baptist College

#1823 in United States #1913 in North America

100% Acceptance

46 Enrollment

1924 Founded

$8,340 Net Price

45

Pulaski

Martin Methodist College

#1844 in United States #1934 in North America

87% Acceptance

1,012 Enrollment

1008 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

46

Chattanooga

Richmont Graduate University

#1886 in United States #1978 in North America

100% Acceptance

1933 Founded

47

Memphis

Memphis College of Art

#1889 in United States #1981 in North America

60% Acceptance

1936 Founded

$32,480 Net Price

48

Memphis

Memphis Theological Seminary

#1890 in United States #1982 in North America

82% Acceptance

151 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

49

Memphis

Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences

#1951 in United States #2044 in North America

82% Acceptance

151 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1912 Founded

50

Dayton

Omega Graduate School

#1952 in United States #2045 in North America

79% Acceptance

263 Enrollment

1280 Avg SAT

51

Cleveland

Pentecostal Theological Seminary

#1989 in United States #2082 in North America

90% Acceptance

89 Enrollment

52

Madisonville

Hiwassee College

#2058 in United States #2152 in North America

100% Acceptance

$11,434 Net Price

53

McKenzie

Bethel University – Tennessee

#2069 in United States #2164 in North America

60% Acceptance

2,674 Enrollment

975 Avg SAT

1842 Founded

54

Knoxville

Huntington University of Health Sciences

#2101 in United States #2198 in North America

67% Acceptance

$26,623 Net Price

55

Nashville

Aquinas College, Tennessee

#2145 in United States #2243 in North America

89% Acceptance

1961 Founded

56

Nashville

Nossi College of Art

#2171 in United States #2270 in North America

46% Acceptance

247 Enrollment

$24,044 Net Price

57

Nashville

Watkins College of Art Design & Film

#2223 in United States #2323 in North America

73% Acceptance

1885 Founded

$30,279 Net Price

58

Memphis

Visible Music College

#2259 in United States #2360 in North America

28% Acceptance

79 Enrollment

25 Avg ACT

$27,045 Net Price

59

Nashville

Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Inc

#2303 in United States #2404 in North America

100% Acceptance

1950 Founded

60

Memphis

Mid-South Christian College

#2339 in United States #2440 in North America

100% Acceptance

19 Enrollment

$12,752 Net Price