Universities in Tennessee
Tennessee has 49 degree-granting institutions reporting to the U.S. Department of Education — 11 public, 36 private nonprofit, together enrolling about 156,378 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: Doctoral, Very High Research | Public | 30,418 |
| 2 | Middle Tennessee State UniversityMurfreesboro · R2: Doctoral, High Research | Public | 16,301 |
| 3 | University of MemphisMemphis · R1: Doctoral, Very High Research | Public | 12,701 |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaChattanooga · Doctoral/Professional University | Public | 10,074 |
| 5 | East Tennessee State UniversityJohnson City · R2: Doctoral, High Research | Public | 10,004 |
| 6 | Tennessee Technological UniversityCookeville · R2: Doctoral, High Research | Public | 8,698 |
| 7 | Austin Peay State UniversityClarksville · Master's, Larger Programs | Public | 7,560 |
| 8 | Vanderbilt UniversityNashville · R1: Doctoral, Very High Research | Private | 7,208 |
| 9 | Belmont UniversityNashville · Doctoral/Professional University | Private | 7,137 |
| 10 | The University of Tennessee-MartinMartin · Master's, Medium Programs | Public | 4,866 |
| 11 | Tennessee State UniversityNashville · R2: Doctoral, High Research | Public | 4,848 |
| 12 | Lipscomb UniversityNashville · Doctoral/Professional University | Private | 2,997 |
| 13 | Southern Adventist UniversityCollegedale · Master's, Medium Programs | Private | 2,773 |
| 14 | Lee UniversityCleveland · Master's, Medium Programs | Private | 2,617 |
| 15 | Cumberland UniversityLebanon · Master's, Medium Programs | Private | 2,104 |
| 16 | Rhodes CollegeMemphis · Baccalaureate: Arts & Sciences | Private | 1,836 |
| 17 | Strayer University-TennesseeMemphis · Special Focus: Engineering | Private for-profit | 1,784 |
| 18 | Trevecca Nazarene UniversityNashville · Doctoral/Professional University | Private | 1,737 |
| 19 | The University of the SouthSewanee · Baccalaureate: Arts & Sciences | Private | 1,607 |
| 20 | Union UniversityJackson · Doctoral/Professional University | Private | 1,607 |
| 21 | Lincoln Memorial UniversityHarrogate · Doctoral/Professional University | Private | 1,572 |
| 22 | Bethel UniversityMcKenzie · Master's, Larger Programs | Private | 1,547 |
| 23 | Carson-Newman UniversityJefferson City · Doctoral/Professional University | Private | 1,387 |
| 24 | Freed-Hardeman UniversityHenderson · Master's, Medium Programs | Private | 1,212 |
| 25 | Fisk UniversityNashville · Baccalaureate: Arts & Sciences | Private | 1,035 |
| 26 | Maryville CollegeMaryville · Baccalaureate: Arts & Sciences | Private | 1,005 |
| 27 | King UniversityBristol · Master's, Larger Programs | Private | 908 |
| 28 | Christian Brothers UniversityMemphis · Master's, Medium Programs | Private | 905 |
| 29 | The University of Tennessee SouthernPulaski · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Public | 864 |
| 30 | Tennessee Wesleyan UniversityAthens · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Private | 846 |
| 31 | Milligan UniversityMilligan · Master's, Medium Programs | Private | 818 |
| 32 | Bryan College-DaytonDayton · Master's, Small Programs | Private | 814 |
| 33 | Tusculum UniversityGreeneville · Master's, Medium Programs | Private | 785 |
| 34 | Baptist Health Sciences UniversityMemphis · Special Focus: Medical Schools/Centers | Private | 770 |
| 35 | Johnson UniversityKnoxville · Master's, Medium Programs | Private | 743 |
| 36 | Lane CollegeJackson · Baccalaureate: Arts & Sciences | Private | 736 |
| 37 | Le Moyne-Owen CollegeMemphis · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Private | 581 |
| 38 | The University of Tennessee Health Science CenterMemphis · Special Focus: Other Health Professions | Public | 394 |
| 39 | Nossi College of Art and DesignNashville · Special Focus: Technology-Related | Private for-profit | 247 |
| 40 | Welch CollegeGallatin · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Private | 226 |
| 41 | American Baptist CollegeNashville · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Private | 46 |
| 42 | Williamson Christian CollegeFranklin · Special Focus: Engineering | Private | 41 |
| 43 | Mid-South Christian CollegeMemphis · Baccalaureate/Associate's: Assoc. Dominant | Private | 19 |
| 44 | Meharry Medical CollegeNashville · Special Focus: Faith-Related | Private | — |
| 45 | Memphis Theological SeminaryMemphis · Baccalaureate/Associate's: Assoc. Dominant | Private | — |
| 46 | Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia IncMadison · Special Focus: Medical Schools/Centers | Private | — |
| 47 | Omega Graduate SchoolDayton · Master's, Small Programs | Private | — |
| 48 | Richmont Graduate UniversityChattanooga · Special Focus: Medical Schools/Centers | Private | — |
| 49 | Southern College of OptometryMemphis · Special Focus: Medical Schools/Centers | Private | — |
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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Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard & IPEDS (most recent release, 2024-25). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.