2022 Best Colleges in Tennessee

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Created by College Confidential

There are about 70 colleges and universities in Tennessee, but these five are among the best in the state. Read more about each school below, and click the heart icon to save your favorites to your college list.

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • 4-Year, Private

In-State

$63,946

Out-of-State

$63,946

Acceptance Rate7%

Vanderbilt University is a private, nonprofit university in the city of Nashville, Tennessee. Vanderbilt was founded in 1873. The university enrolls around 13,796 students a year, including 7,126 undergrads.

Vanderbilt Acceptance Rate

It is extremely difficult to get into Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt admitted 7% of all applicants in 2021. In 2021, 3,368 out of 47,152 total applicants were accepted.

Vanderbilt University Admissions Facts At-A-Glance
Overall Acceptance Rate	7%
Early Decision Acceptance Rate	18%
Early Action Acceptance Rate	EA not offered
Average GPA	3.9
Test Optional	Yes
Applicants Submitting SAT scores	25%

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Vanderbilt University Community Forums

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Go See Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt University is located in the city of Nashville, Tennessee, near Nashville.

If you are interested in seeing Vanderbilt for yourself, be sure to plan a visit! The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 65 to Nashville, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Nashville International.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Vanderbilt University and Nashville are like without leaving home.

The University of Tennessee

Knoxville, TN • 4-Year, Public

In-State

$13,484

Out-of-State

$31,674

Acceptance Rate68%

The University of Tennessee is a public, state university in the city of Knoxville, Tennessee. The University of Tennessee was founded in 1794. The college currently enrolls around 33,805 students a year, including 27,203 undergrads.

2022 Acceptance Rate for The University of Tennessee

It is moderately difficult to get into The University of Tennessee. In 2022, The University of Tennessee accepted 68% of applicants. Out of 36,290 applications received in 2022, 24,826 students were offered admission.

The University of Tennessee Admissions Facts At-A-Glance
Overall Acceptance Rate	68%
Early Decision Acceptance Rate	ED not offered
Early Action Acceptance Rate	76%
Average GPA	4.0
Test Optional	May require tests
Applicants Submitting ACT scores	76%
Applicants Submitting SAT scores	21%

To learn more about The University of Tennessee, choose from the options below:

The University of Tennessee Community Forums

Save The University of Tennessee To Your College List

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Visit The University of Tennessee

The University of Tennessee is located in the city of Knoxville, Tennessee,.

If you would like to see The University of Tennessee for yourself, be sure to plan a visit! The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 40 and I-75 to Knoxville, or book a flight to the nearest airport, McGhee Tyson Municipal.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what The University of Tennessee and Knoxville are like without leaving home.

The University of the South

Sewanee, TN • 4-Year, Private

In-State

$53,704

Out-of-State

$53,704

Acceptance Rate52%

The University of the South is a private, religious university in the town of Sewanee, Tennessee. Sewanee was founded in 1857. The college currently enrolls around 1,704 students a year, including 1,613 undergrads.

Sewanee Acceptance Rate

It is very difficult to get into Sewanee. The acceptance rate at Sewanee is 52%. Out of 4,578 applications received in 2022, 2,395 students were offered admission.

The University of the South Admissions Facts At-A-Glance
Overall Acceptance Rate	52%
Early Decision Acceptance Rate	60%
Early Action Acceptance Rate	79%
Test Optional	Yes
Applicants Submitting ACT scores	79%
Applicants Submitting SAT scores	24%

To learn more about The University of the South, choose from the options below:

The University of the South Community Forums

Save Sewanee To Your College List

Click the heart icon in the top left to save Sewanee to the list of schools you're interested in applying to.

Interested In Schools in Tennessee?

See a full list of colleges in Tennessee and save your favorites to your college list.

Visit The University of the South

The University of the South is located in Sewanee, Tennessee, near Chattanooga.

If you are interested in seeing Sewanee for yourself, be sure to plan a visit! The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 24 to Sewanee, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Chattanooga Metropolitan.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what The University of the South and Sewanee are like without leaving home.

Rhodes College

Memphis, TN • 4-Year, Private

In-State

$54,892

Out-of-State

$54,892

Acceptance Rate54%

Rhodes College is a private, nonprofit college in the city of Memphis, Tennessee. Rhodes College was founded in 1848. The college currently enrolls around 2,008 students a year, including 1,996 undergrad students.

Rhodes College Acceptance Rate 2022

It is very difficult to get into Rhodes College. Around 54% of applicants get into Rhodes College each year. Out of 5,253 applications received in 2022, 2,832 students were offered admission.

Rhodes College Admissions Facts At-A-Glance
Overall Acceptance Rate	54%
Early Decision Acceptance Rate	58%
Early Action Acceptance Rate	EA Offered but % not available
Test Optional	May require tests
Applicants Submitting SAT scores	11%

Choose one of the options below to learn more about Rhodes College:

Rhodes College Community Forums

Save Rhodes College To Your College List

Click the heart icon in the top left to save Rhodes College to the list of schools you're interested in applying to.

Interested In Colleges and Universities in Tennessee?

See a full list of colleges in Tennessee and save your favorites to your college list.

Go See Rhodes College

Rhodes College is located Memphis.

If you are interested in seeing Rhodes College for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 40/55 to Memphis, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Memphis International.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Rhodes College and Memphis are like without leaving home.

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, TN • 4-Year, Public

In-State

$9,506

Out-of-State

$29,042

Acceptance Rate68%

Middle Tennessee State University is a public, state university in the city of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Middle Tennessee State University was founded in 1911. The college enrolls around 20,857 students per year, including 18,054 undergraduate students.

Middle Tennessee State University Acceptance Rate

It is moderately difficult to get into Middle Tennessee State University. In 2022, Middle Tennessee State University accepted 68% of applicants. In 2022, 11,244 students applied to Middle Tennessee State University and 7,691 were admitted.

Middle Tennessee State University Admissions Facts At-A-Glance
Overall Acceptance Rate	68%
Early Decision Acceptance Rate	ED not offered
Early Action Acceptance Rate	EA not offered
Average GPA	3.6
Test Optional	Yes
Applicants Submitting SAT scores	7%

Choose one of the options below to learn more about Middle Tennessee State University:

Middle Tennessee State University Community Forums

Save Middle Tennessee State University To Your College List

Click the heart icon in the top left to save Middle Tennessee State University to the list of schools you're interested in applying to.

Interested In Colleges in Tennessee?

See a full list of colleges in Tennessee and save your favorites to your college list.

Middle Tennessee State University Campus Tours

Middle Tennessee State University is located in the city of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, near Nashville.

If you would like to see Middle Tennessee State University for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 24 to Murfreesboro, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Nashville International.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Middle Tennessee State University and Murfreesboro are like without leaving home.

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2022 Best Colleges in Tennessee

Vanderbilt University

$63,946

$63,946

Vanderbilt Acceptance Rate

Save Vanderbilt To Your College List

Searching For Colleges in Tennessee?

Go See Vanderbilt

The University of Tennessee

$13,484

$31,674

2022 Acceptance Rate for The University of Tennessee

Save The University of Tennessee To Your College List

Searching For Colleges in Tennessee?

Visit The University of Tennessee

The University of the South

$53,704

$53,704

Sewanee Acceptance Rate

Save Sewanee To Your College List

Interested In Schools in Tennessee?

Visit The University of the South

Rhodes College

$54,892

$54,892

Rhodes College Acceptance Rate 2022

Save Rhodes College To Your College List

Interested In Colleges and Universities in Tennessee?

Go See Rhodes College

Middle Tennessee State University

$9,506

$29,042

Middle Tennessee State University Acceptance Rate

Save Middle Tennessee State University To Your College List

Interested In Colleges in Tennessee?

Middle Tennessee State University Campus Tours

Get a student loan that goes beyond tuition.

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