The Cheapest Colleges in Tennessee by Out of State Total Cost for 2023
If you're looking for an affordable university in Tennessee but aren't a state resident, these are the least expensive out of state colleges to consider. Additionally, if you are a foreign citizen and cannot qualify for in-state tuition, these are the cheapest universities in Tennessee for international students.
Affordable doesn't simply mean finding a school with a low published out of state total cost. 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 out of state total cost 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.
Total cost may factor in an estimated off-campus living expense if a school doens't provide housing. This estimate may vary widely by college. To view a rank by academic fees alone please see our Tennessee tuition ranking.
The most affordable four year colleges in Tennessee are listed by one year's out of state total cost list price for the 2021/2022 school year. Total cost includes tuition, room and board or estimated off campus living expenses, books and supplies and other fees.
What is the cheapest college in Tennessee? Leading the colleges list is University of Phoenix Nashville Campus in Nashville with an out of state total cost of $16,452.
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 | Out of State Total Cost | Rating | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
#1 University of Phoenix Nashville CampusNashville, Private For Profit |
$16,452 | NA | NA |
#2 University of Phoenix KnoxvilleKnoxville, Private For Profit |
$16,470 | NA | NA |
#3 University of Phoenix Chattanooga CampusChattanooga, Private For Profit |
$17,070 | NA | NA |
#4 University of Phoenix Memphis CampusCordova, Private For Profit |
$17,070 | NA | NA |
#5 Baptist Memorial College of Health SciencesMemphis, Private Not For Profit |
$17,312 | 60 | 96 |
#6 Le Moyne Owen CollegeMemphis, Private Not For Profit |
$19,426 | 16 | 8 |
#7 Tennessee Temple UniversityChattanooga, Private Not For Profit |
$19,960 | NA | NA |
#8 Lane CollegeJackson, Private Not For Profit |
$20,100 | NA | NA |
#9 Martin Methodist CollegePulaski, Private Not For Profit |
$20,300 | 34 | 85 |
#10 Victory UniversityMemphis, Private For Profit |
$20,876 | NA | NA |
#11 American Baptist CollegeNashville, Private Not For Profit |
$22,614 | NA | NA |
#12 Virginia College School of Business and HealthChattanooga, Private For Profit |
$22,852 | NA | NA |
#13 Fountainhead College of TechnologyKnoxville, Private For Profit |
$23,132 | NA | NA |
#14 East Tennessee State UniversityJohnson City, Public Not For Profit |
$23,672 | 49 | 52 |
#15 DeVry University TennesseeMemphis, Private For Profit |
$23,769 | NA | NA |
#16 The University of Tennessee MartinMartin, Public Not For Profit |
$24,202 | 41 | 58 |
#17 University of MemphisMemphis, Public Not For Profit |
$25,042 | 36 | 38 |
#18 Nossi College of ArtMadison, Private For Profit |
$25,250 | NA | NA |
#19 Williamson Christian CollegeFranklin, Private Not For Profit |
$25,755 | NA | NA |
#20 Visible Music CollegeMemphis, Private Not For Profit |
$26,000 | 41 | 1 |