The Best Value Tennessee Colleges

Best Value Colleges in Tennessee for 2024

Explore the colleges that provide the best value for your money in Tennessee based on academic quality, outcomes, net price and financial aid. The rankings are calculated using ratings from the 2024 CollegeSimply Best Colleges ranking factored against the typical net price paid by students - to identify the colleges that offer the best deals. Leading the list for 2024 as the overall best value college in Tennessee is Vanderbilt University with a 10 out of 10 academic rating for a comparatively affordable $25,606 average net price. The highest value public state college is The University of Tennessee. Learn how the Best Value Colleges are calculated and ranked on our methodology page.


27 results

Vanderbilt University
V
Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#1 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 13,710enrollment
  • $25,606net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.89Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Rhodes College
R
Memphis, TN

Rhodes College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 2,008enrollment
  • $30,672net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1470SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.99Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Sewanee The University of the South
S
Sewanee, TN

Sewanee The University of the South

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 1,704enrollment
  • $33,061net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1233-1380SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Union University
U
Jackson, TN

Union University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 2,731enrollment
  • $28,585net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1370SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Trevecca Nazarene University
T
Nashville, TN

Trevecca Nazarene University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 3,327enrollment
  • $16,080net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.43Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Lipscomb University
L
Nashville, TN

Lipscomb University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 4,704enrollment
  • $27,937net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1320SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Lincoln Memorial University
L
Harrogate, TN

Lincoln Memorial University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 5,418enrollment
  • $19,162net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 982-1190SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.29Avg GPA

The University of Tennessee
T
Knoxville, TN

The University of Tennessee

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#8 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 33,805enrollment
  • $21,880net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1330SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.66Estimated Avg GPA

Tennessee Technological University
T
Cookeville, TN

Tennessee Technological University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 9,902enrollment
  • $15,188net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1270SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Belmont University
B
Nashville, TN

Belmont University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#10 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 8,910enrollment
  • $36,225net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1340SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

Southern Adventist University
S
Collegedale, TN
 

Southern Adventist University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 2,903enrollment
  • $24,332net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 980-1280SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Austin Peay State University
A
Clarksville, TN

Austin Peay State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 9,326enrollment
  • $16,140net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 983-1170SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 4

Bethel University
B
McKenzie, TN
 

Bethel University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 4,686enrollment
  • $13,858net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 928-1130SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Carson Newman College
C
Jefferson City, TN
 

Carson Newman College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 2,586enrollment
  • $20,111net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 980-1143SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Christian Brothers University
C
Memphis, TN
 

Christian Brothers University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 1,934enrollment
  • $18,612net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1280SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

East Tennessee State University
E
Johnson City, TN

East Tennessee State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#16 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 13,483enrollment
  • $14,350net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 980-1190SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.33Estimated Avg GPA

Fisk University
F
HBCU
Nashville, TN

Fisk University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 1,055enrollment
  • $20,578net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1450SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Freed Hardeman University
F
Henderson, TN
 

Freed Hardeman University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 2,330enrollment
  • $18,556net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1240SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

King College
K
Bristol, TN
 

King College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 1,357enrollment
  • $22,626net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1160SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Lee University
L
Cleveland, TN

Lee University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#20 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 3,927enrollment
  • $19,726net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1240SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Maryville College
M
Maryville, TN

Maryville College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#21 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 1,069enrollment
  • $21,583net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 930-1120SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

University of Memphis
M
Memphis, TN

University of Memphis

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#22 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 21,917enrollment
  • $13,873net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 930-1230SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

Middle Tennessee State University
M
Murfreesboro, TN

Middle Tennessee State University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#23 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 20,086enrollment
  • $13,062net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1230SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Tennessee Wesleyan College
T
Athens, TN
 

Tennessee Wesleyan College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#24 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 1,052enrollment
  • $13,591net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 950-1150SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
T
Chattanooga, TN

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#25 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 11,283enrollment
  • $14,417net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1023-1210SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

The University of Tennessee Martin
T
Martin, TN
 

The University of Tennessee Martin

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#26 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 6,868enrollment
  • $12,619net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Tusculum College
T
Greeneville, TN

Tusculum College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#27 Best Value in Tennessee

  • 1,303enrollment
  • $20,414net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 910-1110SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
  • 3.18Estimated Avg GPA