The Cheapest Colleges in Tennessee by Out of State Total Cost for 2021
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 2018/2019 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 2019/2020 IPEDS Survey and reflect reported costs for the 2019/2020 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 Baptist Memorial College of Health SciencesMemphis, Private Not For Profit |
$16,920 | 59 | 92 |
#4 University of Phoenix Memphis CampusCordova, Private For Profit |
$17,070 | NA | NA |
#5 University of Phoenix Chattanooga CampusChattanooga, Private For Profit |
$17,070 | NA | NA |
#6 Le Moyne Owen CollegeMemphis, Private Not For Profit |
$18,546 | 14 | 6 |
#7 Tennessee Temple UniversityChattanooga, Private Not For Profit |
$19,960 | NA | NA |
#8 Lane CollegeJackson, Private Not For Profit |
$20,100 | NA | NA |
#9 Victory UniversityMemphis, Private For Profit |
$20,876 | NA | NA |
#10 American Baptist CollegeNashville, Private Not For Profit |
$22,614 | NA | NA |
#11 Virginia College School of Business and HealthChattanooga, Private For Profit |
$22,852 | NA | NA |
#12 Fountainhead College of TechnologyKnoxville, Private For Profit |
$23,132 | NA | NA |
#13 The University of Tennessee MartinMartin, Public Not For Profit |
$23,584 | 48 | 72 |
#14 DeVry University TennesseeMemphis, Private For Profit |
$23,769 | NA | NA |
#15 Nossi College of ArtMadison, Private For Profit |
$23,900 | NA | NA |
#16 Johnson UniversityKnoxville, Private Not For Profit |
$25,066 | 51 | 32 |
#17 Daymar College NashvilleNashville, Private For Profit |
$25,240 | NA | NA |
#18 Williamson Christian CollegeFranklin, Private Not For Profit |
$25,350 | NA | NA |
#19 University of MemphisMemphis, Public Not For Profit |
$25,527 | 41 | 46 |
#20 Daymar College ClarksvilleClarksville, Private For Profit |
$25,740 | NA | NA |
#21 Daymar College MurfreesboroMurfreesboro, Private For Profit |
$25,840 | NA | NA |
#22 Visible Music CollegeMemphis, Private Not For Profit |
$26,250 | 39 | 5 |
#23 Austin Peay State UniversityClarksville, Public Not For Profit |
$26,939 | 31 | 10 |
#24 Bethel UniversityMcKenzie, Private Not For Profit |
$27,408 | 24 | 14 |
#25 Free Will Baptist Bible CollegeNashville, Private Not For Profit |
$28,310 | NA | NA |
#26 Lee UniversityCleveland, Private Not For Profit |
$28,695 | 37 | 28 |
#27 Hiwassee CollegeMadisonville, Private Not For Profit |
$29,358 | NA | NA |
#28 Southern Adventist UniversityCollegedale, Private Not For Profit |
$31,260 | NA | NA |
#29 Aquinas CollegeNashville, Private Not For Profit |
$32,000 | 69 | 74 |
#30 Freed Hardeman UniversityHenderson, Private Not For Profit |
$32,200 | 43 | 57 |
#31 Tennessee State UniversityNashville, Public Not For Profit |
$32,244 | NA | NA |
#32 Lincoln Memorial UniversityHarrogate, Private Not For Profit |
$32,390 | 57 | 69 |
#33 South CollegeKnoxville, Private For Profit |
$33,110 | NA | NA |
#34 Cumberland UniversityLebanon, Private Not For Profit |
$33,220 | 33 | 2 |
#35 Tennessee Wesleyan CollegeAthens, Private Not For Profit |
$34,600 | 46 | 83 |
#36 Martin Methodist CollegePulaski, Private Not For Profit |
$34,800 | 35 | 34 |
#37 Fisk UniversityNashville, Private Not For Profit |
$34,954 | 38 | 6 |
#38 Trevecca Nazarene UniversityNashville, Private Not For Profit |
$34,998 | 54 | 77 |
#39 Tennessee Technological UniversityCookeville, Public Not For Profit |
$35,948 | 51 | 36 |
#40 Milligan CollegeMilligan College, Private Not For Profit |
$36,280 | NA | NA |
#41 The University of Tennessee at ChattanoogaChattanooga, Public Not For Profit |
$36,674 | 40 | 31 |
#42 East Tennessee State UniversityJohnson City, Public Not For Profit |
$36,924 | 49 | 46 |
#43 Bryan CollegeDayton, Private Not For Profit |
$36,950 | NA | NA |
#44 Tusculum CollegeGreeneville, Private Not For Profit |
$37,164 | 25 | 13 |
#45 Watkins College of Art Design & FilmNashville, Private Not For Profit |
$37,750 | 49 | 8 |
#46 Middle Tennessee State UniversityMurfreesboro, Public Not For Profit |
$37,978 | 45 | 42 |
#47 O'More College of DesignFranklin, Private Not For Profit |
$38,130 | 33 | 3 |
#48 Carson Newman CollegeJefferson City, Private Not For Profit |
$39,224 | 47 | 60 |
#49 King CollegeBristol, Private Not For Profit |
$41,160 | 49 | 46 |
#50 Memphis College of ArtMemphis, Private Not For Profit |
$43,670 | NA | NA |
#51 Christian Brothers UniversityMemphis, Private Not For Profit |
$44,233 | 51 | 68 |
#52 The University of TennesseeKnoxville, Public Not For Profit |
$44,534 | 67 | 61 |
#53 Union UniversityJackson, Private Not For Profit |
$45,750 | 72 | 74 |
#54 Lipscomb UniversityNashville, Private Not For Profit |
$48,204 | 68 | 73 |
#55 Maryville CollegeMaryville, Private Not For Profit |
$48,532 | 47 | 65 |
#56 Belmont UniversityNashville, Private Not For Profit |
$49,570 | 63 | 25 |
#57 Sewanee The University of the SouthSewanee, Private Not For Profit |
$60,940 | 80 | 79 |
#58 Rhodes CollegeMemphis, Private Not For Profit |
$61,954 | 78 | 89 |
#59 Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Private Not For Profit |
$70,274 | 97 | 98 |