Best Universities in Tennessee

Top Universities in Tennessee

Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, is a prestigious private research university known for its strong programs in medicine, law, engineering, and business. Founded in 1873, Vanderbilt offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #14 in National Universities.

Number of Students:

Approximately 13,000 students.

Degrees Offered:

Vanderbilt offers over 70 undergraduate majors and minors, as well as numerous graduate and professional programs.

Acceptance Rate:

Around 9%.

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1500.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

Greek life, student government, research opportunities.

Famous Alumni:

1. Al Gore – Former Vice President of the United States and environmental activist.
2. James Patterson – Bestselling author known for his crime novels.
3. Fred Thompson – Former U.S. Senator and actor.
4. Amy Grant – Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter.
5. Dinaw Mengestu – Award-winning author and MacArthur Fellow.

Top Companies Hiring Graduates:

1. Amazon
2. Google
3. Microsoft
4. McKinsey & Company
5. Goldman Sachs

University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK)

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is a public research university and the flagship institution of the University of Tennessee system. Established in 1794, UTK offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #112 in National Universities.

Number of Students:

Approximately 30,000 students.

Degrees Offered:

UTK offers over 360 undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines.

Acceptance Rate:

Around 79%.

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1230.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

Football games, student organizations, outdoor recreation.

Famous Alumni:

1. Peyton Manning – Former NFL quarterback and Super Bowl champion.
2. Howard H. Baker Jr. – Former U.S. Senator and White House Chief of Staff.
3. Cormac McCarthy – Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
4. Pat Summitt – Legendary women’s basketball coach.
5. James Agee – Pulitzer Prize-winning author and screenwriter.

Top Companies Hiring Graduates:

1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory
2. Eastman Chemical Company
3. TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)
4. FedEx
5. Pilot Flying J

Rhodes College

Rhodes College, located in Memphis, is a private liberal arts college known for its strong academic programs and close-knit community. Established in 1848, Rhodes offers undergraduate degrees in over 50 majors and minors.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #53 in National Liberal Arts Colleges.

Number of Students:

Approximately 2,000 students.

Degrees Offered:

Rhodes College offers bachelor’s degrees in various liberal arts disciplines, including humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

Acceptance Rate:

Around 44%.

Average SAT Score:

The middle 50% SAT scores range from 1270 to 1440.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

Community service projects, intramural sports, study abroad programs.

Famous Alumni:

1. Morgan Freeman – Academy Award-winning actor.
2. Amy Coney Barrett – Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
3. Cory Booker – U.S. Senator from New Jersey.
4. George Bodenheimer – Former President of ESPN.
5. Richard Durbin – U.S. Senator from Illinois.

Top Companies Hiring Graduates:

1. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
2. FedEx
3. International Paper
4. AutoZone
5. ServiceMaster

Belmont University

Belmont University, located in Nashville, is a private Christian liberal arts university known for its strong programs in music, business, and healthcare. Established in 1890, Belmont offers undergraduate and graduate degrees.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #160 in National Universities.

Number of Students:

Approximately 8,400 students.

Degrees Offered:

Belmont offers over 100 undergraduate majors and minors, as well as numerous graduate and professional programs.

Acceptance Rate:

Around 84%.

Average SAT Score:

The middle 50% SAT scores range from 1120 to 1300.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

Music performances, faith-based organizations, community service projects.

Famous Alumni:

1. Brad Paisley – Grammy Award-winning country music artist.
2. Trisha Yearwood – Grammy Award-winning country music artist.
3. Lee Ann Womack – Country music artist.
4. Hayley Orrantia – Actress and singer known for her role in “The Goldbergs.”
5. Dave Barnes – Singer-songwriter and musician.

Top Companies Hiring Graduates:

1. HCA Healthcare
2. Vanderbilt University Medical Center
3. Nissan North America
4. Deloitte
5. HealthTrust Purchasing Group

Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)

Middle Tennessee State University, located in Murfreesboro, is a public research university known for its programs in music, aerospace, and education. Established in 1911, MTSU offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degrees.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #293 in National Universities.

Number of Students:

Approximately 22,000 students.

Degrees Offered:

MTSU offers over 140 undergraduate majors and minors, as well as numerous graduate programs.

Acceptance Rate:

Around 94%.

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1070.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

Greek life, student media organizations, cultural clubs.

Famous Alumni:

1. Chris Young – Country music artist and winner of “Nashville Star.”
2. Hillary Scott – Grammy Award-winning singer in the band Lady A (formerly Lady Antebellum).
3. Dinah Shore – Singer, actress, and television personality.
4. Wilma Rudolph – Olympic track and field athlete.
5. Pat Summit – Legendary women

University of Memphis

The University of Memphis, located in Memphis, is a public research university known for its strong programs in business, education, and health sciences. Established in 1912, the University of Memphis offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #293 in National Universities.

Number of Students:

Approximately 22,000 students.

Degrees Offered:

The University of Memphis offers over 250 areas of study, including undergraduate majors, graduate programs, and professional degrees.

Acceptance Rate:

Around 85%.

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1100.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

Student government, intramural sports, multicultural organizations.

Famous Alumni:

1. Penny Hardaway – Former NBA player and current head coach of the Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team.
2. Justin Timberlake – Grammy Award-winning musician and actor.
3. Rita Dove – Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and former U.S. Poet Laureate.
4. DeAngelo Williams – Former NFL running back for the Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers.
5. Issac Bruce – Former NFL wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers.

Top Companies Hiring Graduates:

1. FedEx
2. International Paper
3. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
4. Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare
5. AutoZone

Tennessee Technological University (TTU)

Tennessee Technological University, located in Cookeville, is a public institution known for its strong programs in engineering, business, and education. Established in 1915, TTU offers undergraduate and graduate degrees.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #34 in Regional Universities South.

Number of Students:

Approximately 11,000 students.

Degrees Offered:

TTU offers over 200 undergraduate and graduate programs, including degrees in engineering, business, education, and the arts and sciences.

Acceptance Rate:

Around 80%.

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1180.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

Engineering competitions, student government, outdoor recreation clubs.

Famous Alumni:

1. Phillip Fulmer – Former head football coach of the University of Tennessee and College Football Hall of Famer.
2. Dianne Black – Former U.S. Representative for Tennessee.
3. Bill Haslam – Former Governor of Tennessee and former Mayor of Knoxville.
4. William B. Lenoir – Former NASA astronaut and physicist.
5. Vicki Bailey – Former Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.

Top Companies Hiring Graduates:

1. Cummins Inc.
2. Cookeville Regional Medical Center
3. Oak Ridge National Laboratory
4. Nissan North America
5. IBM

East Tennessee State University (ETSU)

East Tennessee State University, located in Johnson City, is a public university known for its strong programs in health sciences, education, and business. Established in 1911, ETSU offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #298 in National Universities.

Number of Students:

Approximately 14,500 students.

Degrees Offered:

ETSU offers over 140 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs in various fields, including health sciences, education, business, and the arts and sciences.

Acceptance Rate:

Around 81%.

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1050.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

Medical mission trips, student-run clinics, community service projects.

Famous Alumni:

1. Kenny Chesney – Grammy Award-winning country music artist.
2. Steve Spurrier – Former NFL player and college football coach.
3. Nancy-Ann DeParle – Former Director of the White House Office of Health Reform.
4. Robert M. Panoff – Founder and Executive Director of the Shodor Education Foundation.
5. Philip Fulmer – Former head football coach of the University of Tennessee and College Football Hall of Famer.

Top Companies Hiring Graduates:

1. Mountain States Health Alliance
2. Eastman Chemical Company
3. Wellmont Health System
4. Johnson City Medical Center
5. Bristol Regional Medical Center

Sewanee: The University of the South

Sewanee: The University of the South, commonly known as Sewanee, is a private liberal arts college located in Sewanee, Tennessee. Founded in 1857, Sewanee offers undergraduate degrees in liberal arts and sciences.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #47 in National Liberal Arts Colleges.

Number of Students:

Approximately 1,700 students.

Degrees Offered:

Sewanee offers bachelor’s degrees in over 30 majors and minors in the liberal arts and sciences.

Acceptance Rate:

Around 67%.

Average SAT Score:

The middle 50% SAT scores range from 1240 to 1410.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

Outdoor recreation, community service projects, literary and arts organizations.

Famous Alumni:

1. William Faulkner – Nobel Prize-winning author.
2. Cordell Hull – Former U.S. Secretary of State and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
3. Allen Tate – Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and critic.
4. John M. Hood – Former Governor of Tennessee.
5. Wyatt C. Hedrick – Architect known for his work on the Texas State Capitol and several buildings at Texas Tech University.

Top Companies Hiring Graduates:

1. Vanderbilt University Medical Center
2. Teach For America
3. International Paper
4. Deloitte
5. AmeriCorps

Austin Peay State University (APSU)

Austin Peay State University, located in Clarksville, is a public university known for its strong programs in education, business, and healthcare. Established in 1927, APSU offers undergraduate and graduate degrees.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #37 in Regional Universities South.

Number of Students:

Approximately 11,000 students.

Degrees Offered:

APSU offers over 90 undergraduate majors and minors, as well as graduate programs in education, business, healthcare, and the arts and sciences.

Acceptance Rate:

Around 94%.

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1050.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

Student government, Greek life, intramural sports.

Famous Alumni:

1. Otis Floyd – Former U.S. Representative for Tennessee.
2. James Bailey – Former NBA player.
3. Trenton Hassell – Former NBA player.
4. Altraun Verner – Former NFL cornerback.
5. Channing Tatum – Actor and film producer.

Top Companies Hiring Graduates:

1. Clarksville-Montgomery County School System
2. HCA Healthcare
3. S. Army
4. Fort Campbell
5. Trane Technologies