Best Grad Schools in Tennessee 2024

Published: May 5, 2021
Updated: Oct 26, 2023

Graduate school may be a critical step in your higher education, whether you are interested in expanding your knowledge, learning a specialization, or earning advanced credentials required by your profession. The best graduate schools in Tennessee offer advanced degrees, such as master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as opportunities for independent research, mentorships, and professional networking.

University of Memphis 95%
Austin Peay State University 93%
Freed–Hardeman University 88%
East Tennessee State University 87%
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 86%
Tennessee Tech 79%
Carson–Newman University 79%
Trevecca Nazarene University 78%
University of Tennessee 75%
Lipscomb University 74%

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 18 to 1
Tennessee Tech 18 to 1
University of Tennessee 17 to 1
Middle Tennessee State University 17 to 1
East Tennessee State University 16 to 1
University of Memphis 16 to 1
Austin Peay State University 16 to 1
Lipscomb University 14 to 1
Carson–Newman University 14 to 1
Trevecca Nazarene University 13 to 1

Vanderbilt University $56,966
Lipscomb University $35,752
Union University $35,510
Carson–Newman University $31,320
Trevecca Nazarene University $26,898
Lincoln Memorial University $24,210
Freed–Hardeman University $23,300
University of Tennessee $11,332
Tennessee Tech $8,520
University of Memphis $8,352

Vanderbilt University $51,600
Lincoln Memorial University $19,654
Lipscomb University $17,100
Union University $11,618
University of Tennessee $11,468
Trevecca Nazarene University $11,235
Freed–Hardeman University $10,980
Tennessee Tech $10,480
Tennessee State University $9,524
Carson–Newman University $9,432

Freed–Hardeman University
Carson–Newman University
Tennessee Tech
Trevecca Nazarene University
Union University
Austin Peay State University
Lincoln Memorial University
Lipscomb University
East Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University

Vanderbilt University 7%
Union University 53%
Middle Tennessee State University 68%
Lincoln Memorial University 70%
Lipscomb University 74%
University of Tennessee 75%
Trevecca Nazarene University 78%
Carson–Newman University 79%
Tennessee Tech 79%
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 86%

Vanderbilt University 8 to 1
Union University 10 to 1
Tennessee State University 12 to 1
Trevecca Nazarene University 13 to 1
Freed–Hardeman University 13 to 1
Lincoln Memorial University 13 to 1
Lipscomb University 14 to 1
Carson–Newman University 14 to 1
East Tennessee State University 16 to 1
University of Memphis 16 to 1

Austin Peay State University $6,816
Tennessee State University $7,128
Middle Tennessee State University $7,344
East Tennessee State University $7,486
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga $7,992
University of Memphis $8,352
Tennessee Tech $8,520
University of Tennessee $11,332
Freed–Hardeman University $23,300
Lincoln Memorial University $24,210

Austin Peay State University $8,226
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga $8,618
East Tennessee State University $8,784
University of Memphis $9,378
Middle Tennessee State University $9,396
Carson–Newman University $9,432
Tennessee State University $9,524
Tennessee Tech $10,480
Freed–Hardeman University $10,980
Trevecca Nazarene University $11,235

Table of Contents

Colleges and Universities in Tennessee

About one third of the higher learning institutes in Tennessee are public schools. Students who attend these schools can expect to pay anywhere between $4,000 to $13,000 in tuition and have the option to pursue degrees in fields such as economics, history, nursing, literature, education, and criminal justice. Tennessee’s largest public school, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, boasts some impressive alumni, including Oprah Winfrey, Kurt Vonnegut, and Cormac McCarthy. The private school alumni are equally as notable. For example, author James Patterson and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Muhammad Yunus both attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

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Tennessee also offers nearly 30 religiously affiliated schools, the largest being Belmont University in Nashville, located just blocks from the famous Music Row. Here, students can study a wide range of fields including Christian leadership, audio engineering technology, and biophysics. Additionally, Tennessee offers students several loan forgiveness programs. Math and science teachers, minority teachers, and registered nurses interested in becoming teachers or administrators who meet certain requirements may be eligible.

Tennessee is home to mouthwatering barbecues, electrified blues, and the sweeping majesty of the Smoky Mountains National Park. And with access to countless historic sites, unique museums, and lush green spaces, students attending one of the more than 60 colleges and universities in The Volunteer State will have plenty to do and see in their downtime.

Discover more about the top programs and higher education learning opportunities available in Tennessee.

What are Tennessee’s Colleges & Universities?

Tennessee’s Best Overall

How do we determine Tennessee's best grad schools?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

There are 15 doctorate-granting graduate schools in Tennessee. Our ranking of the best graduate schools in the Tennessee is composed of both private and public schools. To be included, schools must be fully accredited non-profit institutions, and must offer doctoral degrees and a broad array of graduate degrees.

Best Grad Schools in Tennessee 2023

Build your own college ranking

Tennessee’s Best Grad School for Your Area of Interest

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

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Best Grad Schools in Tennessee 2024

10 Best Grad Schools in Tennessee

Colleges and Universities in Tennessee

What are Tennessee’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Grad Schools in Tennessee 2023

Career Outlook for degree at Vanderbilt University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of Tennessee

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of Memphis

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Middle Tennessee State University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Tennessee State University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at East Tennessee State University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Lincoln Memorial University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Tennessee Tech

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Lipscomb University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Austin Peay State University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Union University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Carson–Newman University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Trevecca Nazarene University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Freed–Hardeman University

Most Influential Alumni

Tennessee’s Best Grad School for Your Area of Interest

Resources for Prospective Grad Students