Universities in Tennessee
Tennessee has 137 postsecondary institutions reporting to the U.S. Department of Education: 46 public, 45 private nonprofit, 46 for-profit, together enrolling about 245,221 undergraduates (2024-25 data). Each links to a full financial-health and student-outcomes profile. 6 are historically Black colleges or universities.
| # | Institution | Sector | Undergrads |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville · R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production | Public | 30,418 |
| 2 | Middle Tennessee State UniversityMurfreesboro · R2: High Research Spending and Doctorate Production | Public | 16,301 |
| 3 | University of MemphisMemphis · R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production | Public | 12,701 |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaChattanooga · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Master's Large/Medium | Public | 10,074 |
| 5 | East Tennessee State UniversityJohnson City · R2: High Research Spending and Doctorate Production | Public | 10,004 |
| 6 | South CollegeKnoxville · Special Focus: Other Health Professions | Private for-profit | 8,745 |
| 7 | Tennessee Technological UniversityCookeville · R2: High Research Spending and Doctorate Production | Public | 8,698 |
| 8 | Austin Peay State UniversityClarksville · Mixed Undergraduate/Graduate-Master's Large/Medium | Public | 7,560 |
| 9 | Vanderbilt UniversityNashville · R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production | Private | 7,208 |
| 10 | Belmont UniversityNashville · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate Medium | Private | 7,137 |
| 11 | Pellissippi State Community CollegeKnoxville · Mixed Associate Medium | Public | 6,715 |
| 12 | Nashville State Community CollegeNashville · Mixed Associate Medium | Public | 5,653 |
| 13 | Volunteer State Community CollegeGallatin · Mixed Associate Medium | Public | 5,339 |
| 14 | Chattanooga State Community CollegeChattanooga · Mixed Associate Medium | Public | 5,284 |
| 15 | Southwest Tennessee Community CollegeMemphis · Mixed Associate Medium | Public | 5,047 |
| 16 | The University of Tennessee-MartinMartin · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Master's Large/Medium | Public | 4,866 |
| 17 | Tennessee State UniversityNashville · R2: High Research Spending and Doctorate Production | Public | 4,848 |
| 18 | Miller-Motte College-ChattanoogaChattanooga · Special Focus: Other Health Professions | Private for-profit | 4,462 |
| 19 | Northeast State Community CollegeBlountville · Mixed Associate Medium | Public | 4,404 |
| 20 | Motlow State Community CollegeTullahoma · Mixed Associate Medium | Public | 3,962 |
| 21 | Columbia State Community CollegeColumbia · Mixed Associate Medium | Public | 3,897 |
| 22 | Walters State Community CollegeMorristown · Mixed Associate Medium | Public | 3,591 |
| 23 | Roane State Community CollegeHarriman · Mixed Associate Medium | Public | 3,250 |
| 24 | Lipscomb UniversityNashville · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate Medium | Private | 2,997 |
| 25 | Southern Adventist UniversityCollegedale · Professions-focused Baccalaureate Small | Private | 2,773 |
| 26 | Lee UniversityCleveland · Professions-focused Baccalaureate Medium | Private | 2,617 |
| 27 | Jackson State Community CollegeJackson · Mixed Associate Medium | Public | 2,511 |
| 28 | Cumberland UniversityLebanon · Professions-focused Associate/Baccalaureate | Private | 2,104 |
| 29 | Dyersburg State Community CollegeDyersburg · Mixed Associate Small | Public | 2,103 |
| 30 | Cleveland State Community CollegeCleveland · Mixed Associate Small | Public | 1,975 |
| 31 | Rhodes CollegeMemphis · Special Focus: Arts and Sciences | Private | 1,836 |
| 32 | Strayer University-TennesseeNashville · Special Focus: Business | Private for-profit | 1,784 |
| 33 | Trevecca Nazarene UniversityNashville · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate Medium | Private | 1,737 |
| 34 | SAE Institute of Technology-NashvilleNashville · Special Focus: Applied and Career Studies | Private for-profit | 1,712 |
| 35 | The University of the SouthSewanee · Special Focus: Arts and Sciences | Private | 1,607 |
| 36 | Union UniversityJackson · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate Small | Private | 1,607 |
| 37 | Lincoln Memorial UniversityHarrogate · Special Focus: Medical Schools and Centers | Private | 1,572 |
| 38 | Bethel UniversityMcKenzie · Professions-focused Baccalaureate Medium | Private | 1,547 |
| 39 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MemphisMemphis · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Public | 1,391 |
| 40 | Carson-Newman UniversityJefferson City · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate Small | Private | 1,387 |
| 41 | Freed-Hardeman UniversityHenderson · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Master's Small | Private | 1,212 |
| 42 | Fisk UniversityNashville · Special Focus: Arts and Sciences | Private | 1,035 |
| 43 | Galen Health Institutes-Nashville CampusNashville · Special Focus: Nursing | Private for-profit | 1,027 |
| 44 | Maryville CollegeMaryville · Mixed Baccalaureate | Private | 1,005 |
| 45 | Nashville Auto-Diesel CollegeNashville · Special Focus: Applied and Career Studies | Private for-profit | 967 |
| 46 | King UniversityBristol · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Master's Small | Private | 908 |
| 47 | Christian Brothers UniversityMemphis · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Master's Small | Private | 905 |
| 48 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-KnoxvilleKnoxville · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Public | 887 |
| 49 | The University of Tennessee SouthernPulaski · Professions-focused Baccalaureate Small | Public | 864 |
| 50 | Tennessee Wesleyan UniversityAthens · Professions-focused Baccalaureate Small | Private | 846 |
| 51 | Milligan UniversityMilligan · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Master's Small | Private | 818 |
| 52 | Bryan College-DaytonDayton · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Master's Small | Private | 814 |
| 53 | Meridian Institute of Surgical AssistingNashville · Special Focus: Applied and Career Studies | Private for-profit | 805 |
| 54 | Tusculum UniversityGreeneville · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Master's Small | Private | 785 |
| 55 | Baptist Health Sciences UniversityMemphis · Special Focus: Nursing | Private | 770 |
| 56 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology NashvilleNashville · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Public | 759 |
| 57 | Johnson UniversityKnoxville · Special Focus: Theological Studies | Private | 743 |
| 58 | Lane CollegeJackson · Special Focus: Arts and Sciences | Private | 736 |
| 59 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology NorthwestNewbern · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Public | 717 |
| 60 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-DicksonDickson · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Public | 714 |
| 61 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MurfreesboroMurfreesboro · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Public | 709 |
| 62 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MorristownMorristown · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Public | 642 |
| 63 | Le Moyne-Owen CollegeMemphis · Professions-focused Baccalaureate Small | Private | 581 |
| 64 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-JacksonJackson · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Public | 563 |
| 65 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-ElizabethtonElizabethton · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Public | 546 |
| 66 | Concorde Career College-MemphisMemphis · Special Focus: Applied and Career Studies | Private for-profit | 517 |
| 67 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-ShelbyvilleShelbyville · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Public | 412 |
| 68 | The University of Tennessee Health Science CenterMemphis · R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production | Public | 394 |
| 69 | Fortis Institute-NashvilleNashville · Special Focus: Applied and Career Studies | Private for-profit | 393 |
| 70 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology CrumpCrump · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Public | 388 |
| 71 | William R Moore College of TechnologyMemphis · Special Focus: Applied and Career Studies | Private | 366 |
| 72 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Upper CumberlandCrossville · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Public | 360 |
| 73 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-HohenwaldHohenwald · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Public | 346 |
| 74 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-LivingstonLivingston · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Public | 340 |
| 75 | Fortis Institute-CookevilleCookeville · Special Focus: Nursing | Private for-profit | 334 |
| 76 | Remington College-Memphis CampusMemphis · Special Focus: Applied and Career Studies | Private | 331 |
| 77 | Tennessee School of Beauty of Knoxville IncKnoxville · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 323 |
| 78 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnvilleMcMinnville · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Public | 302 |
| 79 | Genesis Career College-CookevilleCookeville · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 300 |
| 80 | Remington College-Nashville CampusNashville · Special Focus: Applied and Career Studies | Private | 280 |
| 81 | Brillare Beauty InstituteCleveland · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private | 265 |
| 82 | Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical CareersChattanooga · Special Focus: Applied and Career Studies | Private for-profit | 252 |
| 83 | Nossi College of Art and DesignNashville · Special Focus: Arts, Music, and Design | Private for-profit | 247 |
| 84 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-HartsvilleHartsville · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Public | 247 |
| 85 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-HarrimanHarriman · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Public | 246 |
| 86 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-PulaskiPulaski · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Public | 246 |
| 87 | Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro-NashvilleHendersonville · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 237 |
| 88 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-JacksboroJacksboro · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Public | 231 |
| 89 | Welch CollegeGallatin · Special Focus: Arts and Sciences | Private | 226 |
| 90 | Paul Mitchell the School-MemphisMemphis · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 216 |
| 91 | TCAT AthensAthens · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Public | 205 |
| 92 | Herzing University-NashvilleNashville · Four-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private | 201 |
| 93 | Paul Mitchell the School-MurfreesboroMurfreesboro · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 201 |
| 94 | Academy of Allied Health CareersChattanooga · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 194 |
| 95 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Henry/CarrollParis · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Public | 180 |
| 96 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Oneida-HuntsvilleHuntsville · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Public | 171 |
| 97 | John A Gupton CollegeNashville · Special Focus: Applied and Career Studies | Private | 166 |
| 98 | Empire Beauty School-E MemphisMemphis · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 156 |
| 99 | Gould's AcademyMemphis · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 148 |
| 100 | Gould's AcademyBartlett · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 135 |
| 101 | Lawrenceburg Technical CollegeLawrenceburg · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 128 |
| 102 | Sandra Academy of Salon ServicesNew Tazewell · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 117 |
| 103 | Franklin Hair Academy School of CosmetologyFranklin · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 116 |
| 104 | Empire Beauty School-NashvilleBrentwood · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 111 |
| 105 | Austin's Beauty College IncClarksville · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 101 |
| 106 | TC BeautyJohnson City · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 100 |
| 107 | Genesis Career College-LebanonLebanon · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 96 |
| 108 | Ross Medical Education Center-Johnson CityJohnson City · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 87 |
| 109 | The Hair Academy LLCFayetteville · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 82 |
| 110 | Visible Music CollegeMemphis · Special Focus: Arts, Music, and Design | Private | 79 |
| 111 | Love Beauty School IncManchester · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 75 |
| 112 | Ross Medical Education Center-KnoxvilleKnoxville · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 75 |
| 113 | Image Maker Beauty InstituteHendersonville · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 74 |
| 114 | Empire Beauty School-JacksonJackson · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 73 |
| 115 | Vibe Barber CollegeMemphis · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 71 |
| 116 | Arnolds Beauty SchoolMilan · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 63 |
| 117 | North Central InstituteClarksville · Special Focus: Applied and Career Studies | Private for-profit | 61 |
| 118 | Nashville Film InstituteNashville · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 60 |
| 119 | Elite College of CosmetologyLexington · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 53 |
| 120 | American Baptist CollegeNashville · Special Focus: Theological Studies | Private | 46 |
| 121 | Williamson Christian CollegeFranklin · Special Focus: Business | Private | 41 |
| 122 | The Salon Professional Academy-NashvilleNashville · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 33 |
| 123 | Massage Institute of MemphisMemphis · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 29 |
| 124 | Mind Body InstituteMadison · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 29 |
| 125 | Sweetwater Institute of CosmetologySweetwater · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 22 |
| 126 | Mr Wayne's School of Unisex Hair DesignCookeville · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 20 |
| 127 | Mid-South Christian CollegeMemphis · Special Focus: Theological Studies | Private | 19 |
| 128 | Studio 75 Hair AcademyMillington · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 14 |
| 129 | Health-Tech Institute of MemphisMemphis · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private for-profit | 8 |
| 130 | Herzing University-ClarksvilleClarksville · Four-year institution (not classified by Carnegie) | Private | – |
| 131 | Meharry Medical CollegeNashville · Special Focus: Medical Schools and Centers | Private | – |
| 132 | Memphis Theological SeminaryMemphis · Special Focus: Theological Studies | Private | – |
| 133 | Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia IncMadison · Special Focus: Nursing | Private | – |
| 134 | Omega Graduate SchoolDayton · Special Focus: Theological Studies | Private | – |
| 135 | Pentecostal Theological SeminaryCleveland · Special Focus: Theological Studies | Private | 0 |
| 136 | Richmont Graduate UniversityChattanooga · Special Focus: Graduate Studies | Private | – |
| 137 | Southern College of OptometryMemphis · Special Focus: Other Health Professions | Private | – |
This is a directory, not a ranking, listed by undergraduate enrollment. Counts and figures come from the most recent College Scorecard & IPEDS release (2024-25), which lags the current academic year by 2–3 years. Open each institution’s profile for financial health, outcomes and peer benchmarks.
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Frequently asked
How many colleges and universities are in Tennessee?
137 postsecondary institutions in Tennessee report to the U.S. Department of Education: 46 public, 45 private nonprofit, 46 for-profit. Together they enroll about 245,221 undergraduates (2024-25 data).
Which Tennessee college enrolls the most undergraduates?
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville in Knoxville, with about 30,418 undergraduates (2024-25 data). It is the largest of the 137 institutions listed on this page by undergraduate enrollment.
Are there historically Black colleges or universities in Tennessee?
Yes: Tennessee State University, Fisk University, Lane College, Le Moyne-Owen College, American Baptist College, Meharry Medical College. Tennessee has 6 HBCUs in this directory.
Where does this Tennessee college data come from?
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS collections, most recent release (2024-25). Every figure is federal, published and free to check. Nothing on this page is estimated or AI-generated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard & IPEDS (most recent release, 2024-25). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.