All 32 Colleges and Universities in Tennessee

Are you looking for all the colleges and universities in Tennessee? Here, we will go over the list of private and public universities and colleges in Tennessee.

In our database, there are a total of 32 institutions in Tennessee including Austin Peay State University, Belmont University, and Bryan College . Out of those institutions, 11 are public and 21 are private. Some of the public institutions are Austin Peay State University, East Tennessee State University, and Middle Tennessee State University. Some examples of private universities in Tennessee are Belmont University, Bryan College, and Christian Brothers University.

In these universities and colleges in Tennessee, the total number of students is 203,214, and the total number of international students is 1,146.

1. Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay State University provides affordable education and highly promotes inclusivity. It aims to intensify its research by equipping students with adequate resources and training centers. The university is full of dedicated staff that offers hands-on supervision to the students.

2. Belmont University

Belmont University maintains a Christ-centered community where students from all over the world can gain wisdom and knowledge through practical education. The university ensures that students get to heighten their passion by giving them adequate resources and materials for learning. In recent years, Belmont University began hosting more international students and participating in foreign academic competitions.

3. Bryan College

Bryan College is a privately funded Christian college in Dayton, Tennessee. This liberal arts college is fully committed to generating competent and Christ-centered professionals. It provides high-quality programs with teachings based on biblical values and Christian traditions. Although it is being identified as a Christian college, the institution admits students from all backgrounds, including religious preferences.

4. Christian Brothers University

Christian Brothers University was founded in 1871 in Midtown Memphis, Tennessee. Revolving its teachings and social practices in the Lasallian Tradition, students follow the guide of Catholic belief, academic excellence, volunteering, and social justice with faith, service, and community as their three core values. Applicants from abroad are welcome to the university and are also eligible for scholarships that are offered to their local students.

5. East Tennessee State University

Located near different national parks, East Tennessee State University is one of the biggest higher education institutions in the state. Although its main campus is located in Johnson City, the university has multiple teaching centers throughout Tennessee, and it also has flexible online learning opportunities. It offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate programs across its 10 colleges, but it's mainly famous for its health-related programs. The university is also known for having one-of-a-kind majors related to the culture and history of the US, like the master's degree in Appalachian Studies.

6. Fisk University

Established in 1866, Fisk University initially started as a black-serving institution. Today, it warmly welcomes students from all ethnicities across the globe. The university prepares its students to succeed in their chosen careers by providing top-quality education with courses lectured by highly qualified professionals. Additionally, transforming students’ lives into global citizens, leaders, and experts is among the university’s top priorities.

7. Freed-Hardeman University

Freed-Hardeman University was founded in 1869 with a close affiliation to the Religious organization named Church of Christ. The programs offered are divided into 5 undergraduate and 9 graduate fields of study. Aside from the division of fields of study, 6 colleges and schools are also present that house specific degree programs matching their specialization. The current total enrollment of the school is 2,117, with international students coming from 17 other countries. The university's athletics team also competes at an intercollegiate level in both genders and various sports such as baseball, softball, golf, and volleyball.

8. King University

King University is a private Presbyterian university located in Bristol, Tennessee. It was founded in 1866 as a Christian university on land donated by Rev. James King of Bristol. All the important buildings on the campus were built in brick and Georgian form. King University is also a large university with three more campuses in Kingsport and Knoxville and 10 educational institutions across Tennessee and southwest Virginia.

9. Lane College

Lane College was originally founded to serve the Afro-American community after the abolition of slavery, which is why it is considered to be among historically black institutions. It offers about 20 bachelor's degree programs across its three schools. Since it has religious affiliations, Lane College has different Christian courses and spaces for faith-related activities, including a mandatory number of hours of chapel service.

10. Lee University

Lee University is a four-year private liberal Christian university located in Cleveland, Tennessee, United States. The university was founded in 1918 as a small Bible research institute and was later recognized as a four-year liberal arts college by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools with the addition of Bible and short-term universities. The university has been recognized in a variety of disciplines, with music schools accredited by the National Association of Music Schools and national accreditation in business schools, nursing schools, and athletic training programs.

11. LeMoyne-Owen College

LeMoyne-Owen College is a historically black university that offers multiple major and minor bachelor's programs. It is a liberal arts school in Memphis, Tennessee that envisions a transformative, leading, and serving the student body.  The school's most recent strategic plan includes recruiting better faculty and maintaining annual enrolment. Campus housing and residence halls are available if students need a place to stay.

12. Lincoln Memorial University

Established in 1897, the Lincoln Memorial University has over 125 years of experience in providing quality education to local and international students. It offers degree programs at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels and is popular for its Nursing program. The university is also known for the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum, an on-campus museum housing an expansive collection of memorabilia related to the former President.

13. Lipscomb University

Lipscomb University is a private educational institution located in Nashville, a city known for its flourishing entertainment industry, southern hospitality, and being a business, technological, and educational hub in the region. It offers over 200 academic programs in liberal arts. The university is also affiliated with the Churches of Christ, which is why it strives to integrate Christian values and principles in all of its programs and activities.

14. Maryville College

Maryville College, also known as the Scots, has centuries of experience and history. It is one of the oldest colleges in the country and was established by a Presbyterian minister. The college mainly offers undergraduate programs in the liberal arts, such as associate and bachelor's courses. It recently introduced an accelerated master's program for teaching secondary STEM.

15. Meharry Medical College

Meharry Medical College is a private medical school in Nashville, Tennessee. It was established in 1876 as the Medical Department of Central Tennessee College, and it became the first medical school for African-American physicians in the state. It is regarded as one of the country's largest private historically black medical schools. Graduate programs in science, medicine, and public health are available at the college.

16. Middle Tennessee State University

Middle Tennessee State University has internationally-renowned graduates that were trained by its effective educational curriculum and advanced facilities. The university actively seeks to strengthen its international reputation. With that, it continues to connect with multiple enterprises and industry leaders.

17. Milligan University

Milligan University's Christian roots are well-reflected in its education and goals. It teaches students to "Go with God in Faith and Love," as per their motto. Being affiliated with the Restoration Movement, a significant number of its students belong to branching congregations of the movement. Besides being a Christian institution, Milligan is also a liberal arts university. Thus, its programs tackle religious studies, arts, education, culture, business, and the sciences. Besides undergraduate majors and graduate master's, the institution also offers minors, seminary courses, adult degrees, pre-professional programs, certificate courses, and more.

18. Rhodes College

Rhodes College is a private coeducational, residential college committed to providing intellectual engagement, services to others, and honor. It was initially founded as the Masonic University of Tennessee, later renamed Stewart College in 1850, then Southwestern Presbyterian University in 1917, and finally to its current name to honor its former college president, Peyton Nalle Rhodes in 1984. The college is recognized nationally for its liberal arts and sciences programs and has consistently ranked among the top liberal arts and sciences colleges in the country.

19. Sewanee: The University of the South

Sewanee: the University of the South was founded by ten dioceses of the Episcopal Church to build a denominational college in the region. The university consists of the College of Arts and Sciences, The School of Letters, and the School of Theology. A study abroad program funded by the university is also offered to students who meet Sewanee's academic and social expectations at no additional cost.

20. Southern Adventist University

Southern Adventist University was founded in 1892 as Graysville Academy in Graysville town, Rhea County, Tennessee. With its name changing over 90 years, the year 1997 was when Graysville Academy eventually became a university and had its final name change. The institution currently has 26 major buildings with over 2719 combined undergraduate and graduate students. Now, it also offers a total of 105 major and minor undergraduate and graduate degrees. To this day, Southern Adventist University continues to serve quality education to the youth in and out of the United States.

21. Tennessee State University

Tennessee State University was primarily founded in 1910 to serve African-American students. It is located in Tennessee's capital and is the only one of its kind in the state. TSU is also a part of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, which benefits historically black institutions. The Times Higher Education rankings placed TSU at 801st nationwide last 2019. Meanwhile, US News ranks it at 299th.

22. Tennessee Tech University

Tennessee Tech University is the more popular name of Tennessee Technological University. It started as a private entity known as the University of Dixie before becoming a public institute. While there is variety to the majors and programs Tennessee Tech offers, it specializes in engineering, tech, and science. It is ranked 277th in the National Universities ranking by US News.

23. The University of Tennessee Southern

Until 2021, the University of Tennessee Southern was an independent and private institution in the southern side of the US. It became a public college when it joined the University of Tennessee system. Furthermore, the university was previously a long-time junior college, but it has since expanded to offer bachelor's and master's degrees. However, its master's programs are only conducted in a hybrid or online format.

24. Trevecca Nazarene University

Trevecca Nazarene University was founded in 1901 that now offers over 100 bachelor's and master's programs. Not only can students have an on-campus learning experience, but they can also acquire them online. The school has multiple athletic teams that actively take part in intercollegiate and national-level sports. Their community grounds itself in faith and service with establishments such as Christian chapels, ministries, as well as various social activities like camping, retreats, and trips to support their values and tradition.

25. Tusculum University

Tusculum University was established in 1794 with a rich Presbyterian heritage. It is rooted in Christian tradition with distinguished teaching methods. The school focuses on civic engagement, community service, and spiritual learning to create exemplar individuals. It has a 140-acre campus found near the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. The campus has one of the best varsity teams competing at NCAA Division II level of competition, and various creative avenues such as the Tusculum Arts Outreach.

26. Union University

Union University is a top-ranked Christian university that offers excellent academic programs in various disciplines. It is equipped with facilities and advanced resources to aid the students throughout the years. The university also coordinates with numerous companies to help students acquire actual experience as early as possible.

27. University of Memphis

Named among the most distinguished universities in Tennessee is the University of Memphis. Established in 1912, it offers over 120 degree programs across the fields of science and technology, arts, communication, and more. The University of Memphis is home to active research professors and scholars contributing to some of the world's best research.

28. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is one of the four main campuses that make up the University of Tennessee system. It was established in 1886 and has been providing excellent undergraduate and graduate education for students from within and outside the state for over 130 years. The university is also known for its innovative programs and cutting-edge research facilities. 

29. University of Tennessee at Martin

Also popularly known as UT Martin, the University of Tennesse at Martin is a public institution that is situated on the western edge of Tennessee. Established in 1927, the UT Martin first started as a Baptist training camp called Hall-Moody Institute. However, as the Baptist institute closed down, the Tennesse government stepped out to replace the facilities to establish the groundwork for the University of Tennessee. Offering regional accreditations for all of its academic programs, UT Martin is a great place to go if you are looking for high-quality courses in your preferred area of study.

30. University of Tennessee Health Science Center

University of Tennessee Health Science Center aims to improve the well-being of society through clinical care, public service, and inclusive education. It is the best training ground for students who aspire to excel in the medical field. The university is full of equipment and tools that are essential in the students' learning process, which is why it is one of the leading health sciences universities in the state.

31. University of Tennessee, Knoxville

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has profound historical roots, established two years before Tennessee became a state. The university promotes inclusivity and hopes to welcome more students worldwide. In this modern age, the institution puts extra effort into improving its equipment and tools to keep up with the changing demands in the professional field.

32. Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University is established on the values of collaboration and collegiality, allowing it to rise above and beyond most universities. This prestigious institution in Nashville aims to push humanity and the world to its full potential through discoveries and service. It accomplishes this through its top-ranked programs in law, business, education, arts, medicine, and many more.