Tennessee's best two- and four-year colleges, according to Niche
A mix of public and private universities topped this year's Niche rankings for four-year schools in Tennessee, while Tennessee College of Applied Technology campuses dominated the two-year schools and programs.
Niche, a Pittsburgh-based organization, relies on public data from the schools, along with reviews from students and parents. This year it also applied an "economic mobility index" that tracks economic status changes among low-income students. Niche then produces rankings, along with letter grades, for schools nationwide. The rankings compare more than 1,000 colleges and universities across the country.
Here's how Tennessee's two- and four-year colleges fared in the latest rankings.
U.S. News college rankings 2025: Vanderbilt, other Tennessee schools make the list
Here are the top 20 four-year colleges and universities in Tennessee, along with their letter grades, according to Niche. The list accounts for both public and private schools.
#1: Vanderbilt University, A+ (Nashville, private)
#2: Union University, A- (Jackson, private)
#3: Lipscomb University, A- (Nashville, private)
#4: University of Tennessee, A- (Knoxville, public)
#5: Rhodes College, B+ (Memphis, private)
#6: Sewanee - University of the South, B+ (Sewanee, private)
#7: Tennessee Technological University, B+ (Cookeville, public)
#8: University of Memphis, B+ (Memphis, public)
#9: East Tennessee State University, B+ (Johnson City, public)
#10: Lincoln Memorial University, B+ (Harrogate, private)
#11: Lee University, B+ (Cleveland, private)
#12: University of Tennessee at Martin, B+ (Martin, public)
#13: Middle Tennessee State University, B (Murfreesboro, public)
#14: Johnson University, B (Knoxville, private)
#15: Milligan University, B (Milligan, private)
#16: Southern Adventist University, B (Collegedale, private)
#17: South College - Knoxville, B (Knoxville, private)
#18: Tennessee Wesleyan University, B (Athens, private)
#19: The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, B (Chattanooga, public)
#20: Maryville College, B (Maryville, private)
The vast network of Tennessee College of Applied Technology campuses dominated the top of the latest Niche ratings in Tennessee, so we expanded this list to include the top 20. The ratings include community colleges, trade and career schools and other two-year programs, according to Niche.
#1: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Murfreesboro, A (Murfreesboro, public)
#2: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Elizabethton, A- (Elizabethton, public)
#3: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Shelbyville, A- (Shelbyville, public)
#4: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Crossville, A- (Crossville, public)
#5: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Dickson, B+ (Dickson, public)
#6: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Hohenwald, B (Hohenwald, public)
#7: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Knoxville, B (Knoxville, public)
#8: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Morristown, B (Morristown, public)
#9: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Livingston, B (Livingston, public)
#10: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Nashville, B- (Nashville, public)
#11: Dyersburg State Community College, B- (Dyersburg, public)
#12: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Jackson, B- (Jackson, public)
#13: Chattanooga State Community College, B- (Chattanooga, public)
#14: Roane State Community College, B- (Harriman, public)
#15: Jackson State Community College, B- (Jackson, public)
#16: Cleveland State Community College, C+ (Cleveland, public)
#17: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Memphis, C+ (Memphis, public)
#18: Columbia State Community College, C+ (Columbia, public)
#19: Walters State Community College, C+ (Morristown, public)
#20: Volunteer State Community College, C+ (Gallatin, public)
Reach children's reporter Rachel Wegner at RAwegner@tennessean.com or follow her on Bluesky @RachelAnnWegner.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: New rankings list best Tennessee colleges
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