Tennessee Colleges, Universities And Trade Schools

• Total Colleges: 183
• Total Medical Schools: 5
• Total Colleges With Tenure: 0
• Colleges By Highest Degree Offered
• Associate's: 34
• Bachelor's Degree: 27
• Master's Degree: 27
• Doctor's Degree: 23
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• Total Faculty: 81,067
• Total Full Time Faculty: 63,431
• Total Part Time Faculty: 17,636
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• Total Students: 368,247
• Total Full Time Students: 262,973
• Total Part Time Students: 105,274
• Total Undergraduate Students: 318,733
• Total Graduate Students: 49,514

Student Race Breakdown

Student Gender Breakdown

Student Age Breakdown

The state of Tennessee is home to a large number of public and private higher education institutions located throughout the state. Larger colleges and universities are typically located in the state’s capital, Nashville, and its largest cities, Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga, with Memphis and Nashville having significantly higher populations. The state is bordered by Virginia to the north, North Carolina to the east, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi to the south, and Arkansas and Missouri to the west. Given the shape of the state, most individuals will be near the border to one or more of these states, allowing for ease of travel and exploration when not studying.

Public institutions in Tennessee are part of one of two systems. The first, the Tennessee Board of Regents, is comprised of six universities, thirteen community colleges, and 27 learning centers throughout the state. The system was formed in 1972, and is currently the sixth largest system of education in the United States. The second system is the University of Tennessee, which operates three primary campuses, two secondary campuses, and a large number of learning annexes throughout the state. The system was formed 1969 and expanded thereafter, though the oldest school in the system, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, dates to 1794.

Public Tennessee institutions include:

• University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (Chattanooga)
• University of Tennessee at Martin (Martin)
• Middle Tennessee State University (Murfreesboro)
• University of Memphis (Memphis)
• Tennessee State University (Nashville)

Private schools in the state are typically liberal arts colleges, providing a unique curriculum of study and allowing for the exploration of interests by students. Such schools also tend to have been founded within a religious context and many maintain ties to the denomination that assisted in their foundation. Private schools tend to have higher tuition costs due to a lack of public funding, smaller class sizes, and excellent student to teacher ratios allowing for a more personal educational experience. Such schools also tend to maintain programs and internship opportunities with sponsors and partners, and a small enrollment means greater opportunity.

Private schools in the state include:

• Carson-Newman College (Jefferson City)
• Lane College (Jackson)
• Rhodes College (Memphis)
• King College (Bristol)
• Tennessee Wesleyan College (Athens)

Tennessee is also home to a large number of private two year colleges, career schools and community colleges. These schools primarily offer career training and technical training for individuals seeking to enter the workforce. Private schools and colleges often are more expensive and limited in their offerings to specific, often high demand, fields. Programs normally take up to a year to complete, but can be as long as two, and are designed with the intention of immediate employment after graduation. Community colleges provide the above as well as transfer opportunities to four year institutions to pursue higher degrees of education.