Lowest-Debt Colleges in Tennessee
Where graduates leave with the least median federal debt — among colleges with solid completion rates.
Showing Tennessee
Clear state| # | College | Type | 5-yr earnings | Net price | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | DR Rating | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville Nashville, TN | For-profit | $28,220 | $24,700 | $9,500 | -264% | Poor return | |
| 2 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN | Private | $96,741 | $15,846 | $14,000 | +656% | Strong return | |
| 3 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TN | Public | $53,196 | $14,246 | $15,650 | +31% | Break-even | |
| 4 | Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN | For-profit | $33,069 | $23,958 | $15,917 | -217% | Poor return | |
| 5 | Cumberland University Lebanon, TN | Private | $58,306 | $18,759 | $17,952 | +63% | Break-even | |
| 6 | South College Knoxville, TN | For-profit | $53,690 | $17,858 | $18,668 | +11% | Break-even | |
| 7 | Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville, TN | Private | $78,413 | $16,813 | $18,744 | +351% | Strong return | |
| 8 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TN | Public | $52,208 | $15,983 | $19,442 | +2% | Break-even | |
| 9 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN | Public | $52,948 | $14,265 | $19,500 | +24% | Break-even | |
| 10 | Lipscomb University Nashville, TN | Private | $60,998 | $24,739 | $19,500 | +51% | Break-even | |
| 11 | Tennessee Wesleyan University Athens, TN | Private | $48,642 | $14,836 | $20,000 | -45% | Poor return | |
| 12 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN | Public | $52,665 | $13,359 | $20,000 | +26% | Break-even | |
| 13 | Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate, TN | Private | $64,163 | $20,406 | $20,000 | +116% | Strong return | |
| 14 | Belmont University Nashville, TN | Private | $64,297 | $33,147 | $20,500 | +38% | Break-even | |
| 15 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TN | Public | $58,622 | $18,976 | $20,500 | +63% | Break-even | |
| 16 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TN | Public | $47,046 | $9,735 | $20,547 | -56% | Poor return | |
| 17 | Union University Jackson, TN | Private | $54,256 | $27,171 | $20,714 | -20% | Poor return | |
| 18 | The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin, TN | Public | $49,133 | $10,701 | $21,024 | -18% | Poor return | |
| 19 | Freed-Hardeman University Henderson, TN | Private | $45,833 | $21,574 | $21,500 | -91% | Poor return | |
| 20 | Johnson University Knoxville, TN | Private | $42,017 | $22,063 | $21,500 | -131% | Poor return | |
| 21 | Carson-Newman University Jefferson City, TN | Private | $57,206 | $20,251 | $21,500 | +37% | Break-even | |
| 22 | Rhodes College Memphis, TN | Private | $64,958 | $28,585 | $21,761 | +63% | Break-even | |
| 23 | King University Bristol, TN | Private | $55,207 | $22,347 | $22,750 | +5% | Break-even | |
| 24 | The University of the South Sewanee, TN | Private | $65,486 | $27,872 | $22,855 | +71% | Strong return | |
| 25 | Bryan College-Dayton Dayton, TN | Private | — | $20,614 | $23,000 | — | Not enough data | |
| 26 | University of Memphis Memphis, TN | Public | $54,679 | $12,397 | $23,300 | +67% | Break-even | |
| 27 | Southern Adventist University Collegedale, TN | Private | $82,724 | $24,345 | $24,500 | +255% | Strong return | |
| 28 | Milligan University Milligan, TN | Private | $62,266 | $21,365 | $25,219 | +82% | Strong return | |
| 29 | Maryville College Maryville, TN | Private | $56,522 | $19,360 | $25,375 | +33% | Break-even | |
| 30 | Lee University Cleveland, TN | Private | $46,275 | $18,878 | $25,750 | -85% | Poor return | |
| 31 | Christian Brothers University Memphis, TN | Private | $60,722 | $9,854 | $27,000 | +219% | Strong return |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.
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