2026 Best Teaching Schools in Tennessee
Looking for the best Teaching degree programs in Tennessee? We have ranked 143 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Teaching Degree Search reviewed 95 schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Teaching Degree Schools in Tennessee
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Vanderbilt University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in Tennessee. This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. The median Teaching program debt is $13,975. See the full Vanderbilt University profile
A rank of #2 makes Southern Adventist University one of the top choices in Tennessee. Based in Collegedale, TN, Southern Adventist University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Students from in state pay about $27,300 in tuition and fees. Typical Teaching student debt is $25,498. Get the full Southern Adventist University report
Belmont University came in at #3 on this year's Teaching ranking in Tennessee. This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. In-state tuition and fees run about $42,540. Students borrow a median of $23,447 to complete their Teaching program here. See the full Belmont University profile
Out of the 95 schools in Tennessee in this year's ranking, Lipscomb University landed the #4 spot. Located in Nashville, TN, Lipscomb University is a private not-for-profit institution. Lipscomb University graduates 72% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $40,572 in tuition and fees. Typical Teaching student debt is $23,529. Get the full Lipscomb University report
Tennessee Technological University came in at #5 on this year's Teaching ranking in Tennessee. Set in Cookeville, TN, Tennessee Technological University is a public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,376, compared with $15,576 for out-of-state students. The median Teaching program debt is $17,580. Read the full report on Tennessee Technological University
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. Set in Chattanooga, TN, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a public institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $10,448 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,512 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $23,324 in student loans. More on The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga
The University Of Tennessee ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. Based in Knoxville, TN, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,859 to complete their Teaching program here. Read the full report on The University Of Tennessee
Freed Hardeman University did well this year, earning the #8 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Henderson, TN. Freed Hardeman University posts a six-year graduation rate of 69%. Students from in state pay about $25,620 in tuition and fees. Typical Teaching student debt is $24,479. Read more about Freed Hardeman University
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #9 spot in Tennessee this year. This public school is set in Murfreesboro, TN. Middle Tennessee State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,266, while out-of-state students pay about $31,574. Typical Teaching student debt is $22,754. See the full Middle Tennessee State University profile
Union University placed #10 among Teaching schools in Tennessee. Union University is a private not-for-profit school based in Jackson, TN. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,398. The median Teaching program debt is $28,605. Read more about Union University
The University Of Tennessee Martin placed #11 among Teaching schools in Tennessee. Based in Martin, TN, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a public institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,560, while out-of-state students pay about $16,600. Students borrow a median of $23,770 to complete their Teaching program here. Get the full The University Of Tennessee Martin report
Carson Newman College placed #12 among Teaching schools in Tennessee. Located in Jefferson City, TN, Carson Newman College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,700. The median Teaching program debt is $22,843. Read more about Carson Newman College
Christian Brothers University landed the #13 spot in Tennessee this year. Based in Memphis, TN, Christian Brothers University is a private not-for-profit institution. Christian Brothers University posts a six-year graduation rate of 55%. In-state tuition and fees average $38,420. Typical Teaching student debt is $32,416. More on Christian Brothers University
Trevecca Nazarene University placed #14 among Teaching schools in Tennessee. Located in Nashville, TN, Trevecca Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. Students from in state pay about $31,300 in tuition and fees. The median Teaching program debt is $24,962. More on Trevecca Nazarene University
Lee University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Set in Cleveland, TN, Lee University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,790. Typical Teaching student debt is $26,422. Read more about Lee University
University Of Memphis did well this year, earning the #16 position. This public school is set in Memphis, TN. University Of Memphis graduates 51% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,728, compared with $15,384 for out-of-state students. University Of Memphis Teaching students take on a median of $26,315 in debt. See the full University Of Memphis profile
Lincoln Memorial University did well this year, earning the #17 position. Set in Harrogate, TN, Lincoln Memorial University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,938. Lincoln Memorial University Teaching students take on a median of $20,693 in debt. Get the full Lincoln Memorial University report
Tennessee State University did well this year, earning the #18 position. Based in Nashville, TN, Tennessee State University is a public institution. Tennessee State University graduates 35% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, with out-of-state students paying around $22,416. The median Teaching program debt is $29,489. Read the full report on Tennessee State University
Cumberland University landed the #19 spot in Tennessee this year. Cumberland University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lebanon, TN. Cumberland University posts a six-year graduation rate of 42%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,840. Cumberland University Teaching students take on a median of $21,902 in debt. See the full Cumberland University profile
East Tennessee State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. Located in Johnson City, TN, East Tennessee State University is a public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,216, while out-of-state students pay about $13,726. East Tennessee State University Teaching students take on a median of $21,301 in debt. Read the full report on East Tennessee State University
Austin Peay State University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Austin Peay State University is a public school based in Clarksville, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,006, with out-of-state students paying around $14,766. Students borrow a median of $24,530 to complete their Teaching program here. More on Austin Peay State University
Bethel University Tennessee landed the #22 spot in Tennessee this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in McKenzie, TN. Roughly 17% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,712. The median Teaching program debt is $28,583. Read the full report on Bethel University Tennessee
Oxford Graduate School came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Oxford Graduate School
Sandra Academy Of Salon Services Inc landed the #24 spot in Tennessee this year. Read the full report on Sandra Academy Of Salon Services Inc
Concorde Career College Memphis placed #25 among Teaching schools in Tennessee. Get the full Concorde Career College Memphis report
Rest of the Top 50 Best Teaching Degree Schools in Tennessee
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Fortis Institute Nashville landed the #26 spot in Tennessee this year. Read the full report on Fortis Institute Nashville
Miller Motte Technical College Chattanooga ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. More on Miller Motte Technical College Chattanooga
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Oneida Huntsville came in at #28 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Oneida Huntsville
Meharry Medical College did well this year, earning the #29 position. More on Meharry Medical College
Martin Methodist College placed #30 among Teaching schools in Tennessee. Read more about Martin Methodist College
Chattanooga State Community College came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Chattanooga State Community College
Masters Barber And Styling College landed the #32 spot in Tennessee this year. Read the full report on Masters Barber And Styling College
Austins Beauty College Inc placed #33 among Teaching schools in Tennessee. Read the full report on Austins Beauty College Inc
Jenny Lea Academy Of Cosmetology Johnson City did well this year, earning the #34 position. Get the full Jenny Lea Academy Of Cosmetology Johnson City report
Remington College Nashville Campus landed the #35 spot in Tennessee this year. Read more about Remington College Nashville Campus
Southwest Tennessee Community College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. See the full Southwest Tennessee Community College profile
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Athens landed the #37 spot in Tennessee this year. Get the full Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Athens report
Tennessee Wesleyan College ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. Read more about Tennessee Wesleyan College
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Morristown placed #39 among Teaching schools in Tennessee. See the full Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Morristown profile
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Shelbyville did well this year, earning the #40 position. Read the full report on Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Shelbyville
Visible Music College came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Visible Music College
Williamson Christian College placed #42 among Teaching schools in Tennessee. More on Williamson Christian College
Tusculum College
Tusculum College did well this year, earning the #43 position. See the full Tusculum College profile
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Elizabethton came in at #44 in this year's ranking. More on Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Elizabethton
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Knoxville landed the #45 spot in Tennessee this year. Read the full report on Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Knoxville
Paul Mitchell The School Murfreesboro Nashville came in at #46 in this year's ranking. More on Paul Mitchell The School Murfreesboro Nashville
Sae Institute Of Technology Nashville placed #47 among Teaching schools in Tennessee. Get the full Sae Institute Of Technology Nashville report
Mid South Christian College came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Mid South Christian College
Columbia State Community College placed #49 among Teaching schools in Tennessee. Get the full Columbia State Community College report
Remington College Memphis Campus placed #50 among Teaching schools in Tennessee. Read more about Remington College Memphis Campus
More Teaching Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Teaching Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 95 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 143 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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