Best ROI Colleges in Tennessee
25 schools ranked by median earnings relative to net price — the schools where the math actually works. Updated from the latest federal filings.
| # | School | Net Price | Grad Rate | Earnings 10yr | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanderbilt University Nashville · private | $15,846 | 93.4% | $91,565 | 5.9% |
| 2 | Baptist Health Sciences University Memphis · private | $11,212 | 56.2% | $72,529 | 82.0% |
| 3 | Rhodes College Memphis · private | $28,585 | 82.8% | $66,651 | 50.3% |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Memphis · public | — | 88.5% | $66,318 | — |
| 5 | Jersey College - Cleveland Cleveland · private | — | — | $66,087 | — |
| 6 | Jersey College - Knoxville Knoxville · private | — | — | $66,087 | — |
| 7 | The University of the South Sewanee · private | $27,872 | 81.3% | $64,911 | 56.9% |
| 8 | Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting Nashville · private | — | 87.5% | $62,978 | — |
| 9 | Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus Nashville · private | $27,267 | — | $61,480 | — |
| 10 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville · public | $18,976 | 71.2% | $60,249 | 41.6% |
| 11 | King University Bristol · private | $22,347 | 66.1% | $59,831 | 99.7% |
| 12 | Cumberland University Lebanon · private | $18,759 | 58.6% | $57,687 | 67.3% |
| 13 | Christian Brothers University Memphis · private | $9,854 | 59.2% | $57,478 | 86.7% |
| 14 | Belmont University Nashville · private | $33,147 | 71.4% | $55,930 | 95.3% |
| 15 | Lipscomb University Nashville · private | $24,739 | 67.7% | $55,541 | 67.7% |
| 16 | North Central Institute Clarksville · private | $17,566 | 94.6% | $55,027 | — |
| 17 | Bryan College-Dayton Dayton · private | $20,614 | 54.9% | $54,434 | — |
| 18 | Union University Jackson · private | $27,171 | 64.0% | $53,990 | 60.4% |
| 19 | Southern Adventist University Collegedale · private | $24,345 | 60.9% | $53,723 | 65.5% |
| 20 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga · public | $14,265 | 55.8% | $51,151 | 81.1% |
| 21 | Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate · private | $20,406 | 62.0% | $49,956 | 62.6% |
| 22 | Casa Loma College - Nashville Nashville · private | — | — | $49,854 | — |
| 23 | Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville · private | $16,813 | 56.7% | $49,378 | 69.4% |
| 24 | Maryville College Maryville · private | $19,360 | 56.7% | $49,279 | 60.9% |
| 25 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro · public | $13,359 | 56.0% | $48,541 | 69.1% |
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Data from U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS, College Scorecard, Clery Act). Updated annually. Rankings reflect the data as reported — not editorial opinion.