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What data sources does FindMySchool.ai use?

FindMySchool.ai uses U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data, IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System), Common Data Set submissions from individual colleges, and Clery Act campus safety statistics. All data is from official federal and institutional sources.

How is FindMySchool.ai different from College Confidential or Niche?

Unlike ranking sites or review platforms, FindMySchool.ai builds a personalized match for each student using their interests, goals, and priorities — not generic rankings. Recommendations include financial fit estimates by family income, admissions factor importance (from each school's Common Data Set), career outcome data by intended major, and AI-generated counselor-quality profiles explaining why each school fits that specific student.

What is the Common Data Set?

The Common Data Set (CDS) is a standardized survey that U.S. colleges complete annually, reporting admissions factors, test score ranges, cost information, graduation rates, and more. FindMySchool.ai uses CDS Section C7 data to identify which admissions factors each college rates as 'Very Important' — including whether demonstrated interest affects admissions decisions.

Best Colleges in Tennessee (2026)

153 colleges ranked by graduate earnings, acceptance rates, and outcomes — powered by federal data from the U.S. Department of Education.

153

Colleges

$40,455

Avg Earnings (10yr)

$15,097

Avg Net Price

70%

Avg Admit Rate

57%

Avg Grad Rate

State Overview

Tennessee is home to 153 colleges and universities, ranging from research universities to community colleges. Vanderbilt University leads the state in graduate earnings, with state alumni earning $40,455 on average ten years after enrollment. Whether you're looking for a flagship research university, a liberal arts college, or a career-focused program, Tennessee offers diverse options across all price points.

Quick Facts — Tennessee Colleges

Highest Earning

Vanderbilt University

$91,565median earnings

Most Selective

Vanderbilt University

6%acceptance rate

Best Grad Rate

Vanderbilt University

93%6-yr grad rate

Most Affordable

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump

-$37avg net price

Top 10 Colleges in Tennessee by Graduate Earnings

Ranked by median earnings 10 years after enrollment. Public and private nonprofit only.

Vanderbilt University

Nashville·Private Nonprofit

Admit

Net Price

$19,040

Grad Rate

93%

Earnings

$91,565

Baptist Health Sciences University

Memphis·Private Nonprofit

Admit

68%

Net Price

$13,401

Grad Rate

56%

Earnings

$72,529

Rhodes College

Memphis·Private Nonprofit

Admit

50%

Net Price

$25,060

Grad Rate

83%

Earnings

$66,651

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Memphis·Public

Admit

N/A

Net Price

N/A

Grad Rate

N/A

Earnings

$66,318

The University of the South

Sewanee·Private Nonprofit

Admit

51%

Net Price

$27,498

Grad Rate

82%

Earnings

$64,911

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville·Public

Admit

46%

Net Price

$18,109

Grad Rate

73%

Earnings

$60,249

King University

Bristol·Private Nonprofit

Admit

54%

Net Price

$23,508

Grad Rate

46%

Earnings

$59,831

Cumberland University

Lebanon·Private Nonprofit

Admit

67%

Net Price

$18,292

Grad Rate

48%

Earnings

$57,687

Christian Brothers University

Memphis·Private Nonprofit

Admit

88%

Net Price

$10,896

Grad Rate

58%

Earnings

$57,478

Belmont University

Nashville·Private Nonprofit

Admit

96%

Net Price

$32,096

Grad Rate

72%

Earnings

$55,930

Most Affordable Colleges in Tennessee

Lowest average net price after grants and scholarships. Public and private nonprofit only.

#1 Most AffordablePublic

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump

Crump, TN

-$37/ yr avg net

63% grad rate

#2 Most AffordablePublic

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzie

McKenzie, TN

$2,256/ yr avg net

75% grad rate

#3 Most AffordablePublic

TCAT Athens

Athens, TN

$3,720/ yr avg net

63% grad rate

#4 Most AffordablePublic

Walters State Community College

Morristown, TN

$4,153/ yr avg net

34% grad rate

#5 Most AffordablePublic

Dyersburg State Community College

Dyersburg, TN

$4,322/ yr avg net

27% grad rate

Popular Majors

Compare the best colleges for top fields of study — ranked by graduate earnings nationwide.

Business Administration Accounting Marketing Finance Business International Business Computer Science Computer & Information Science Mechanical Engineering Electrical Engineering Biomedical Engineering Civil Engineering View all majors

Personalized Match

Find your best-fit Tennessee college

Get a personalized report based on your interests, goals, and what matters most to you — in minutes.

Find my Tennessee college

All Colleges in Tennessee

All 153 accredited institutions. Click column headers to sort.

School	City	Type	Admit Rate	Net Price	Grad Rate	Earnings (10yr)
Academy of Allied Health Careers	Chattanooga	Private For-Profit	N/A	$9,095	54%	N/A
Allied Health Careers Institute	Murfreesboro	Private For-Profit	N/A	$12,114	73%	N/A
American Baptist College	Nashville	Private Nonprofit	N/A	$19,294	27%	$41,216
Arnolds Beauty School	Milan	Private For-Profit	N/A	$10,343	67%	$27,828
Austin Peay State University	Clarksville	Public	96%	$14,846	44%	$44,301
Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary- YMCA Outdoor Center	Antioch	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Austin's Beauty College Inc	Clarksville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$16,069	83%	N/A
Baptist Health Sciences University	Memphis	Private Nonprofit	68%	$13,401	56%	$72,529
Belmont University	Nashville	Private Nonprofit	96%	$32,096	72%	$55,930
Bethel University	McKenzie	Private Nonprofit	97%	$21,803	39%	$47,482
Brillare Beauty Institute	Cleveland	Private Nonprofit	N/A	$24,976	72%	$24,728
Bryan College-Dayton	Dayton	Private Nonprofit	N/A	$16,494	54%	$54,434
Carson-Newman University	Jefferson City	Private Nonprofit	68%	$18,661	52%	$48,382
Casa Loma College - Nashville	Nashville	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	$49,854
Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers	Chattanooga	Private For-Profit	N/A	$28,726	93%	$25,954
Chattanooga State Community College	Chattanooga	Public	N/A	$5,702	22%	$37,598
Christian Brothers University	Memphis	Private Nonprofit	88%	$10,896	58%	$57,478
Cleveland State Community College	Cleveland	Public	N/A	$6,183	29%	$36,671
Columbia State Community College	Columbia	Public	N/A	$4,576	29%	$40,256
Concorde Career College-Memphis	Memphis	Private For-Profit	73%	$21,470	49%	$31,599
Cumberland University	Lebanon	Private Nonprofit	67%	$18,292	48%	$57,687
Dyersburg State Community College	Dyersburg	Public	N/A	$4,322	27%	$36,132
East Tennessee State University	Johnson City	Public	87%	$15,794	52%	$44,859
Elite College of Cosmetology	Lexington	Private For-Profit	N/A	$12,696	79%	$21,197
Empire Beauty School-E Memphis	Memphis	Private For-Profit	N/A	$15,895	50%	$22,377
Empire Beauty School-Jackson	Jackson	Private For-Profit	N/A	$13,699	35%	$24,397
Empire Beauty School-Nashville	Brentwood	Private For-Profit	N/A	$13,888	64%	$23,921
Fisk University	Nashville	Private Nonprofit	58%	$26,135	49%	$45,454
Fortis Institute-Cookeville	Cookeville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$24,118	40%	$34,509
Fortis Institute-Nashville	Nashville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$29,669	50%	$32,886
Franklin Hair Academy School of Cosmetology	Franklin	Private For-Profit	N/A	$22,321	N/A	N/A
Freed-Hardeman University	Henderson	Private Nonprofit	91%	$20,082	69%	$47,485
Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus	Nashville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$27,306	N/A	$61,480
Genesis Career College-Cookeville	Cookeville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$13,597	45%	$22,652
Genesis Career College-Lebanon	Lebanon	Private For-Profit	N/A	$15,513	54%	$24,977
Gould's Academy	Bartlett	Private For-Profit	N/A	$17,964	89%	N/A
Gould's Academy	Memphis	Private For-Profit	N/A	$11,205	84%	N/A
Harding School of Theology	Memphis	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	$52,876
Health-Tech Institute of Memphis	Memphis	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Herzing University-Nashville	Nashville	Private Nonprofit	91%	N/A	N/A	$36,909
Image Maker Beauty Institute	Hendersonville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$15,296	80%	N/A
Jackson State Community College	Jackson	Public	N/A	$7,343	22%	$35,224
Jersey College - Cleveland	Cleveland	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	N/A	$66,087
Jersey College - Knoxville	Knoxville	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	N/A	$66,087
John A Gupton College	Nashville	Private Nonprofit	84%	$19,772	33%	$46,902
Johnson University	Knoxville	Private Nonprofit	54%	$20,303	64%	$40,596
King University	Bristol	Private Nonprofit	54%	$23,508	46%	$59,831
Lane College	Jackson	Private Nonprofit	N/A	$14,494	17%	$31,670
Lawrenceburg Technical College	Lawrenceburg	Private For-Profit	N/A	$10,912	N/A	$25,089
Le Moyne-Owen College	Memphis	Private Nonprofit	97%	$8,992	21%	$35,594
Lee University	Cleveland	Private Nonprofit	72%	$20,399	62%	$43,222
Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville	Nashville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$27,603	59%	$46,396
Lincoln Memorial University	Harrogate	Private Nonprofit	59%	$17,999	52%	$49,956
Lipscomb University	Nashville	Private Nonprofit	67%	$25,610	69%	$55,541
Love Beauty School Inc	Manchester	Private For-Profit	N/A	$7,814	75%	$18,056
Maryville College	Maryville	Private Nonprofit	66%	$20,986	50%	$49,279
Massage Institute of Memphis	Memphis	Private For-Profit	N/A	$10,795	74%	N/A
Master's Barber & Styling College	Old Hickory	Private For-Profit	N/A	$11,352	N/A	N/A
Meharry Medical College	Nashville	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Memphis Theological Seminary	Memphis	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting	Nashville	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	N/A	$62,978
Mid-South Christian College	Memphis	Private Nonprofit	100%	$11,881	N/A	N/A
Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Inc	Madison	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Middle Tennessee State University	Murfreesboro	Public	68%	$12,599	54%	$48,541
Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga	Chattanooga	Private For-Profit	N/A	$25,266	54%	$31,102
Milligan University	Milligan	Private Nonprofit	70%	$21,131	62%	$46,641
Mind Body Institute	Madison	Private For-Profit	N/A	$23,445	82%	N/A
Motlow State Community College	Tullahoma	Public	N/A	$10,421	31%	$40,397
Mr Wayne's School of Unisex Hair Design	Cookeville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$16,300	66%	$23,696
Nashville Film Institute	Nashville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$23,818	66%	N/A
Nashville State Community College	Nashville	Public	N/A	$6,283	17%	$38,519
North Central Institute	Clarksville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$24,033	78%	$55,027
Northeast State Community College	Blountville	Public	N/A	$5,959	30%	$34,553
Nossi College of Art and Design	Nashville	Private For-Profit	43%	$23,591	49%	$35,113
Omega Graduate School	Dayton	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Paul Mitchell the School-Knoxville	Powder Springs	Private For-Profit	N/A	$21,558	40%	$26,260
Paul Mitchell the School-Memphis	Memphis	Private For-Profit	N/A	$20,861	54%	$25,306
Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro	Murfreesboro	Private For-Profit	N/A	$20,915	61%	$30,461
Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro-Nashville	Powder Springs	Private For-Profit	N/A	$21,895	69%	$30,461
Pellissippi State Community College	Knoxville	Public	N/A	$5,252	27%	$38,440
Pentecostal Theological Seminary	Cleveland	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Queen City College	Clarksville	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	70%	$26,401
Relay Graduate School of Education - Memphis	Memphis	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Relay Graduate School of Education - Nashville	Nashville	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Remington College-Memphis Campus	Memphis	Private Nonprofit	N/A	$25,499	33%	$31,349
Remington College-Nashville Campus	Nashville	Private Nonprofit	N/A	$27,789	59%	$31,349
Rhodes College	Memphis	Private Nonprofit	50%	$25,060	83%	$66,651
Richmont Graduate University	Chattanooga	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Roane State Community College	Harriman	Public	N/A	$6,017	32%	$39,407
Ross Medical Education Center-Johnson City	Johnson City	Private For-Profit	N/A	$22,176	51%	$33,079
Ross Medical Education Center-Knoxville	Knoxville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$22,028	70%	$30,072
SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville	Nashville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$21,299	44%	$39,544
Sandra Academy of Salon Services	New Tazewell	Private For-Profit	N/A	$7,494	38%	N/A
South College	Knoxville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$17,182	38%	$36,642
South College-Nashville	Nashville	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	N/A	$36,642
Southern Adventist University	Collegedale	Private Nonprofit	67%	$24,334	52%	$53,723
Southern College of Optometry	Memphis	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Southwest Tennessee Community College	Memphis	Public	N/A	$4,588	16%	$34,071
Strayer University-Knoxville Campus	Knoxville	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	N/A	$40,092
Strayer University-Nashville Campus	Nashville	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	N/A	$40,092
Strayer University-Shelby Oaks Campus	Memphis	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	N/A	$40,092
Strayer University-Tennessee	Memphis	Private For-Profit	N/A	$18,466	N/A	$40,092
Studio 75 Hair Academy	Millington	Private For-Profit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Sweetwater Institute of Cosmetology	Sweetwater	Private For-Profit	N/A	$1,124	77%	N/A
TC Beauty	Johnson City	Private For-Profit	N/A	$12,559	68%	$21,153
TCAT Athens	Athens	Public	N/A	$3,720	63%	$40,540
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville	Nashville	Public	N/A	$9,480	72%	$38,955
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest	Newbern	Public	N/A	$10,375	70%	$38,514
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump	Crump	Public	N/A	-$37	63%	$30,796
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Dickson	Dickson	Public	N/A	$8,332	76%	$36,829
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton	Elizabethton	Public	N/A	$8,419	82%	$35,069
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Harriman	Harriman	Public	N/A	$10,129	65%	$31,591
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville	Hartsville	Public	N/A	$4,963	78%	$40,469
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Henry/Carroll	Paris	Public	N/A	$6,503	72%	$29,074
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hohenwald	Hohenwald	Public	N/A	$10,091	57%	$36,106
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jacksboro	LaFollette	Public	N/A	N/A	N/A	$36,449
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jacksboro	Jacksboro	Public	N/A	$5,661	77%	$36,449
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson	Jackson	Public	N/A	$9,528	75%	$38,383
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville	Knoxville	Public	N/A	$7,858	68%	$37,235
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston	Livingston	Public	N/A	$11,899	72%	$33,497
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzie	McKenzie	Public	N/A	$2,256	75%	$36,720
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnville	McMinnville	Public	N/A	$5,048	70%	$40,322
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis	Memphis	Public	N/A	$7,429	41%	$31,192
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Morristown	Morristown	Public	N/A	$9,798	74%	$38,837
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro	Murfreesboro	Public	N/A	$6,969	86%	$40,869
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Oneida-Huntsville	Huntsville	Public	N/A	$11,087	75%	$31,949
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski	Pulaski	Public	N/A	$9,666	66%	$40,368
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville	Shelbyville	Public	N/A	$5,443	73%	$38,700
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Upper Cumberland	Crossville	Public	N/A	$10,643	82%	$35,551
Tennessee School of Beauty of Knoxville Inc	Knoxville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$11,492	66%	$19,913
Tennessee State University	Nashville	Public	93%	$10,026	33%	$42,730
Tennessee Technological University	Cookeville	Public	83%	$14,207	57%	$48,501
Tennessee Wesleyan University	Athens	Private Nonprofit	59%	$14,879	47%	$45,989
The Hair Academy LLC	Fayetteville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$16,234	83%	$22,193
The Salon Professional Academy-Nashville	Nashville	Private For-Profit	N/A	$13,347	83%	N/A
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center	Memphis	Public	N/A	N/A	N/A	$66,318
The University of Tennessee Southern	Pulaski	Public	83%	$15,133	33%	$38,924
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga	Chattanooga	Public	77%	$12,817	53%	$51,151
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville	Knoxville	Public	46%	$18,109	73%	$60,249
The University of Tennessee-Martin	Martin	Public	87%	$10,299	54%	$44,213
The University of the South	Sewanee	Private Nonprofit	51%	$27,498	82%	$64,911
Trevecca Nazarene University	Nashville	Private Nonprofit	70%	$14,459	58%	$49,378
Tusculum University	Greeneville	Private Nonprofit	60%	$22,874	32%	$44,367
Union University	Jackson	Private Nonprofit	47%	$26,815	69%	$53,990
University of Memphis	Memphis	Public	93%	$13,253	49%	$48,458
Vanderbilt University	Nashville	Private Nonprofit	6%	$19,040	93%	$91,565
Vibe Barber College	Memphis	Private For-Profit	N/A	$14,538	81%	N/A
Visible Music College	Memphis	Private Nonprofit	29%	$26,181	37%	$35,933
Volunteer State Community College	Gallatin	Public	N/A	$10,477	23%	$41,150
Walters State Community College	Morristown	Public	N/A	$4,153	34%	$37,085
Welch College	Gallatin	Private Nonprofit	N/A	$19,983	60%	$42,198
William R Moore College of Technology	Memphis	Private Nonprofit	N/A	$15,323	57%	$32,194
Williamson Christian College	Franklin	Private Nonprofit	N/A	$22,721	N/A	$37,474

Showing 153 of 153 schools