POPULATION (2021): 7 million
CAPITAL: Nashville
LARGEST PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN TENNESSEE: University of Tennessee
LARGEST PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN TENNESSEE: Vanderbilt University
Tennessee is a southern state with a few big cities and a lot of rolling mountains and forests to enjoy, too. Known for being a hub for live music, Tennessee has produced a lot of timeless artists such as Elvis and Dolly Parton, many of whom started their journey in the capital city of Nashville.
Visitors and residents alike flock to the countless live music joints on the weekends, and even the smaller towns always have some live music going. Food is another thing that Tennessee prides itself on, with the hot chicken being their flagship offering.
For students who are old enough, the locals also love sharing their whiskey!
Universities in Tennessee – 4-Year Colleges and Online
Tennessee is home to several large colleges, both public and private, and for students looking for the classic college experience, Tennessee has many choices. Here is a closer look at colleges and universities in Tennessee that offer 4-year degrees.
Public Universities in Tennessee
The University of Tennessee system is the main public university system and has campuses at these locations:
- UT – Main Campus (Knoxville)
- UT – Chattanooga
- UT – Martin
- UT – Southern (Pulaski)
- UT – Health Sciences Center (Memphis)
Several other public universities are located throughout Tennessee:
- Middle Tennessee State University (Murfreesboro)
- University of Memphis
- East Tennessee State University (Johnson City
- Tennessee Technical University (Cookeville)
- Austin Peay University
- Tennessee State University (Nashville)
Private Universities in Tennessee
There is no shortage of private universities in Tennessee, either. Here they are from largest to smallest, by enrollment:
- Vanderbilt University
- Tennessee Bible College
- Belmont University
- Lee University
- Lincoln Memorial University
- Lipscomb University
- Bethel University
- Cumberland University
- Freed-Hardeman University
- LeMoyne-Owen College
- Rhodes College
- King University
- Bryan College
- Lane College
- Milligan University
- Johnson University
- Maryville College
- Fisk University
Community Colleges in Tennessee
The Tennessee education sector also oversees 13 community colleges:
- Chattanooga State Community College, Chattanooga
- Cleveland State Community College, Cleveland
- Columbia State Community College, Columbia
- Dyersburg State Community College, Dyersburg
- Jackson State Community College, Jackson
- Motlow State Community College, Lynchburg
- Nashville State Community College, Nashville
- Northeast State Community College, Blountville
- Pellissippi State Community College, Knoxville
- Roane State Community College, Harriman
- Southwest Tennessee Community College, Memphis
- Volunteer State Community College, Gallatin
- Walters State Community College, Morristown
Prominent Online Colleges in Tennessee
Online school is fairly popular in Tennessee, with nearly 30% of students taking at least one course online. The 4 colleges with the most online students are Johnson University, King University, the University of Memphis, and Carson-Newman.
The UT schools also have transferable credits for their online programs, though the majority of degree programs still require some in-person learning.
Universities in Knoxville, TN
Knoxville is home to the largest college in Tennessee, the University of Tennessee’s Main Campus. The three other 4-year universities in Knoxville are Huntington University, Johnson University, and South College.
Universities in Memphis, TN
Elvis’ hometown is also home to a few colleges. The largest is the college that shares the same name, but in addition to the University of Memphis, the Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences, LeMoyne-Owen College, the Memphis College of Art, Mid-South Christian, Remington College, Rhodes College, and the UT Health Science Center all offer 4-year degrees in Memphis.
Universities in Nashville, TN
The capital of Tennessee is also the capital of country music. Nashville is also the biggest city in Tennessee, which generally means more options for college. Here is a list of the 4-year colleges in Nashville:
- American Baptist College
- Belmont University
- DeVry University
- Fisk University
- Fortis Institute
- Hussian College
- Lipscomb University
- Nossi College of Art
- SAE Institute of Technology
- Tennessee State University
- Trevecca Nazarene University
- Vanderbilt University
- Watkins College of Art, Design, & Film
Get to Know Tennessee
Music, food, and good people are the staples of Tennessee. It has a great mix of city life and country life, and students who go to school in Tennessee will surely find a niche where they feel accepted and have a good time.
The cost of living is fairly low, especially away from the cities, and the economy is strong. Several industries well beyond the shiny lights of music and entertainment are booming in Tennessee, including automotive sales and other large-scale manufacturing processes.