The Cheapest Colleges in Tennessee by In State Tuition for 2023
If you're looking for an affordable university and you are a resident of Tennessee these are the least expensive in state colleges to consider.
Affordable doesn't simply mean finding a school with a low published in state tuition. It's important to research the typical financial aid package offered by a school, the average net price actually paid and most importantly the quality of education you receive for your tuition dollar. Sometimes a school which appears cheap based on list price can be a poor relative value if it can't award competitive financial aid or doesn't offer a quality education. The list below is a ranking on published in state tuition with no consideration of actual average price paid or academic quality of the school. Please see the CollegeCalc best value colleges in Tennessee list for a ranking which considers school quality and average net price.
The most affordable four year colleges in Tennessee are listed by one year's in state tuition list price for the 2021/2022 school year.
What is the cheapest college in Tennessee? Leading the colleges list is Austin Peay State University in Clarksville with an in state tuition of $6,816.
Academic Rating is a CollegeCalc rating of a college's overall academics and effectiveness. The score ranges from zero to one hundred, with fifty being the median for all eligible colleges. Dollar value is a measure of a school's academic rating compared with the average price paid by students. Colleges which are ranked "n/a" didn't report sufficient data to formulate a score. Learn more about our rating methodology.
All price data are reprinted from the U.S. Department of Education's 2021/2022 IPEDS Survey and reflect reported costs for the 2021/2022 academic year.
| College | In State Tuition | Rating | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
#21 Williamson Christian CollegeFranklin, Private Not For Profit |
$13,905 | NA | NA |
#22 Virginia College School of Business and HealthChattanooga, Private For Profit |
$13,986 | NA | NA |
#23 Fountainhead College of TechnologyKnoxville, Private For Profit |
$14,550 | NA | NA |
#24 DeVry University TennesseeMemphis, Private For Profit |
$15,835 | NA | NA |
#25 Bethel UniversityMcKenzie, Private Not For Profit |
$16,222 | 36 | 41 |
#26 South CollegeKnoxville, Private For Profit |
$16,450 | NA | NA |
#27 Bryan CollegeDayton, Private Not For Profit |
$16,900 | NA | NA |
#28 Johnson UniversityKnoxville, Private Not For Profit |
$17,384 | 46 | 27 |
#29 Hiwassee CollegeMadisonville, Private Not For Profit |
$18,484 | NA | NA |
#30 Nossi College of ArtMadison, Private For Profit |
$18,900 | NA | NA |
#31 Free Will Baptist Bible CollegeNashville, Private Not For Profit |
$19,582 | NA | NA |
#32 Lee UniversityCleveland, Private Not For Profit |
$19,800 | 39 | 31 |
#33 Visible Music CollegeMemphis, Private Not For Profit |
$20,000 | 41 | 1 |
#34 Fisk UniversityNashville, Private Not For Profit |
$20,928 | 41 | 16 |
#35 Aquinas CollegeNashville, Private Not For Profit |
$21,350 | 68 | 73 |
#36 Daymar College ClarksvilleClarksville, Private For Profit |
$21,969 | NA | NA |
#37 Southern Adventist UniversityCollegedale, Private Not For Profit |
$22,320 | 52 | 32 |
#38 Daymar College NashvilleNashville, Private For Profit |
$22,348 | NA | NA |
#39 Daymar College MurfreesboroMurfreesboro, Private For Profit |
$22,348 | NA | NA |
#40 Watkins College of Art Design & FilmNashville, Private Not For Profit |
$22,800 | NA | NA |