2022 Tennessee Best Colleges Tuition Comparison

This page compares the best colleges in Tennessee with tuition, admission, and more academic facts (Ranking data from College Evaluator). For the academic year 2021-2022, Vanderbilt University rank first in the best Tennessee college ranking and The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is placed in second.

Admission Comparison Between Best Colleges in Tennessee

2 public and 8 private schools rank in the best Tennessee colleges. The schools' average acceptance rate is 62.20% where Vanderbilt University has the tightest (lowest) acceptance rate of 12% and The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga has the highest rate of 83%. Total 81,426 students are attending one of the best Tennessee schools where The University of Tennessee-Knoxville has the largest population with 30,559 students and Bryan College-Dayton has the smallest number of students (1,412 students). The average graduation rate is 67.10% and the average students to faculty ratio is 13.50:1 at those colleges.
The following table shows the academic information and key facts of the best Tennessee colleges including acceptance rate, graduation rate, student population, and students to faculty ratio.
Table. Tennessee Best Colleges Overview
RankName Acceptance RateSAT ScoreGraduation RatePopulationStudent-Faculty Ratio
1Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
12%1,52093%13,5377:1 (14.29 %)
2The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
78%1,22271%30,55917:1 (5.88 %)
3Rhodes College
Memphis, TN
51%1,31082%1,87510:1 (10.00 %)
4Union University
Jackson, TN
58%1,20066%3,07110:1 (10.00 %)
5Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN
62%1,19569%4,88413:1 (7.69 %)
6Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson, TN
81%1,14066%2,18813:1 (7.69 %)
7The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
83%1,11050%11,72819:1 (5.26 %)
8Bryan College-Dayton
Dayton, TN
51%1,11847%1,41212:1 (8.33 %)
9Trevecca Nazarene University
Nashville, TN
63%1,14756%3,96820:1 (5.00 %)
10Belmont University
Nashville, TN
83%1,21071%8,20414:1 (7.14 %)
Average62.20%1,21767.10%81,426 (Total)13.50:1 (7.41 %)

Best Tennessee Colleges 2022 Tuition Comparison and 2023 Estimated Costs

The following table lists 2021-2022 tuition & fees and compares them between the best Tennessee colleges. The 2021-2022 costs are officially published by IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education. The estimated costs for the academic year 2022-2023 are calculated and estimated based on each school's rate of tuition change from 2021 to 2022.

For the undergraduate programs, the average tuition & fees of the best Tennessee colleges is $34,276 where Vanderbilt University has the most expensive costs at $56,966 and Bryan College-Dayton has the lowest amount of tuition at $17,360. The average graduate tuition & fees of the best Tennessee colleges is $23,968 where Vanderbilt University has the highest tuition with $52,162 and Bryan College-Dayton has the lowest amount of graduate school tuition with $9,760.
UndergraduateGraduate
Table. Best Tennessee Colleges 2022 Undergraduate Tuition Comparison and 2023 Estimation
RankSchool Name 2022 Tuition & Fees2023 Estimated Tuition & Fees
In-StateOut-of-StateIn-StateOut-of-State
1Vanderbilt University $56,966$59,920
2The University of Tennessee-Knoxville $13,244$31,664 $13,224 $31,664
3Rhodes College $50,910$50,910
4Union University $35,510$36,412
5Lipscomb University $35,752$36,789
6Freed-Hardeman University $23,300$23,655
7The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga $9,848$25,966 $10,044 $26,159
8Bryan College-Dayton $17,360$17,676
9Trevecca Nazarene University $26,898$26,898
10Belmont University $38,430$39,883
Average$11,546$34,276$11,634$34,997
Table. Best Tennessee Colleges 2022 Graduate School Tuition Comparison and 2023 Estimation
RankSchool Name 2022 Tuition & Fees2023 Estimated Tuition & Fees
In-StateOut-of-StateIn-StateOut-of-State
1Vanderbilt University $52,162$53,747
2The University of Tennessee-Knoxville $13,380$31,798 $13,380$13,380
3Rhodes College $50,910$50,910
4Union University $11,666$12,754
5Lipscomb University $17,100$16,245
6Freed-Hardeman University $10,980$10,980
7The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga $10,474$18,538 $10,474$10,682
8Bryan College-Dayton $9,760$9,760
9Trevecca Nazarene University $11,585$14,459
10Belmont University $25,180$26,135
Average$11,927$23,968$12,031$24,576