What is the Average Graduation Rate in Tennessee?
The average graduation rate of Tennessee colleges is 59.51%. It includes all institutions' rate (i.e. 4-years and 2-years or less) where the graduation data is available. In public colleges, the graduation rate is 56.91% and private schools' rate is 52.72%.
By gender, the female students' graduation rate is 61.62% and male students' rate is 54.21%.
The schools in below list are the top 5 Tennessee colleges that have the highest graduation rate. Vanderbilt University has the highest graduation rate of 94% among Tennessee colleges. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville and Lipscomb University also have higher graduation rate of 74% and 72% respectively. For the ranking, we exclude colleges with less than 5,000 students. You can view more schools at Tennessee colleges with high graduation rate.
- Vanderbilt University graduation rate: 94%
- The University of Tennessee-Knoxville graduation rate: 74%, transfer-out: 16%
- Lipscomb University graduation rate: 72%
- Belmont University graduation rate: 71%
- Tennessee Technological University graduation rate: 58%, transfer-out: 20%
The following table summarizes the average graduation rate in Tennessee by school type and level.
| Total | Public | Private (not-for-profit) | Private (for-profit) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 59.51% | 56.91% | 52.72% | 67.41% |
| 4 Years Colleges | 51.80% | 50.40% | 52.94% | 46.50% |
| Community Colleges | 57.47% | 58.72% | 43.25% | 59.14% |
| Trade Schools | 71.81% | - | 84.00% | 71.46% |
Bachelor's degree Graduation Rate
For the four-years Tennessee institutions where BS degree grants, the average graduation rate is 58.40%. 18,328 students graduated out of 31,386 candidates. 554 students are still enrolled in the schools and 5,012 students are no longer enrolled or transferred out to other institutions.
By completion time, 14,128 students have completed their degree in 4 years or less as the rate is 45.01% at Tennessee colleges. 3,444 students completed in 5 years and 4,458 students earned their BS degree in 6 years.
The following table summarizes the graduation rate and number of completers by gender and completion time for Tennessee collegesNumbers in parentheses in each column indicate the number of completers over candidates in the corresponding category.
| Total | Female Students | Male Students | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate (in 150% normal time) | 58.40% (18,328/31,386) | 54.21% (7,404/13,657) | 61.62% (10,924/17,729) |
| In 4 Years or Less | 45.01% (14,128/31,386) | 39.04% (5,332/13,657) | 49.61% (8,796/17,729) |
| In 5 Years | 10.97% (3,444/31,386) | 12.37% (1,689/13,657) | 9.90% (1,755/17,729) |
| In 6 Years | 2.41% (756/31,386) | 2.80% (383/13,657) | 2.10% (373/17,729) |
| Transfer-out | 14.20% (4,458/31,386) | 14.12% (1,928/13,657) | 14.27% (2,530/17,729) |
| No longer Enrolled | 1.77% (554/31,386) | 2.20% (301/13,657) | 1.43% (253/17,729) |
| Still Enrolled | 25.07% (7,869/31,386) | 29.32% (4,004/13,657) | 21.80% (3,865/17,729) |
The following table shows the Tennessee Colleges. You can see more schools and narrow down the results in search result page.
| School Name | Location | Tuition & Fees | Enrollment | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Baptist College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Nashville, TN | $13,604 | 46 | - | 39% |
| Arnolds Beauty School Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Milan, TN | $17,750 | 63 | - | 77% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Athens Public, 2-4 years | Athens, TN | $4,620 ($4,620) | 366 | - | 95% |
| Austin Peay State University Public, four-years | Clarksville, TN | $14,766 ($9,006) | 10,439 | 96.41% | 40% |
| Baptist Health Sciences University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Memphis, TN | $13,796 | 891 | 82.02% | 40% |
| Belmont University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Nashville, TN | $42,540 | 8,803 | 95.28% | 71% |
| Bethel University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | McKenzie, TN | $18,712 | 2,936 | 60.23% | 35% |
| Bryan College-Dayton Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Dayton, TN | $19,800 | 1,701 | - | 50% |
| Carson-Newman University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Jefferson City, TN | $34,700 | 2,669 | 90.45% | 53% |
| Chattanooga State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Chattanooga, TN | $17,756 ($4,772) | 7,623 | - | 26% |
| Christian Brothers University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Memphis, TN | $38,420 | 1,772 | 86.70% | 55% |
| Pentecostal Theological Seminary Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Cleveland, TN | $9,864 | 517 | - | - |
| Austin's Beauty College Inc Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Clarksville, TN | $15,199 | 101 | - | 68% |
| Cleveland State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Cleveland, TN | $17,746 ($4,762) | 3,282 | - | 37% |
| Columbia State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Columbia, TN | $17,772 ($4,948) | 5,712 | - | 30% |
| Concorde Career College-Memphis Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Memphis, TN | $18,062 | 517 | 95.06% | 55% |
| Cumberland University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Lebanon, TN | $27,840 | 3,457 | 67.33% | 46% |
| Lipscomb University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Nashville, TN | $40,572 | 5,017 | 67.73% | 72% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Dickson Public, 2-4 years | Dickson, TN | $4,640 ($4,640) | 1,628 | - | 74% |
| Dyersburg State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Dyersburg, TN | $18,060 ($4,758) | 3,296 | - | 34% |
| East Tennessee State University Public, four-years | Johnson City, TN | $13,726 ($10,216) | 13,728 | 86.19% | 53% |
| Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Chattanooga, TN | $12,709 | 252 | - | 12% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton Public, 2-4 years | Elizabethton, TN | $4,119 ($4,119) | 1,850 | - | 81% |
| The Hair Academy LLC Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Fayetteville, TN | $17,625 | 82 | - | 85% |
| Fisk University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Nashville, TN | $25,858 | 1,059 | 37.42% | 30% |
| Welch College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Gallatin, TN | $21,400 | 389 | - | 53% |
| Freed-Hardeman University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Henderson, TN | $25,620 | 2,306 | 59.68% | 71% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Harriman Public, 2-4 years | Harriman, TN | $4,260 ($4,260) | 729 | - | 69% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville Public, 2-4 years | Hartsville, TN | $4,620 ($4,620) | 1,014 | - | 82% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hohenwald Public, 2-4 years | Hohenwald, TN | $5,584 ($5,584) | 2,416 | - | 65% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jacksboro Public, 2-4 years | Jacksboro, TN | $4,620 ($4,620) | 455 | - | 84% |
| Jackson State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Jackson, TN | $17,724 ($4,740) | 3,518 | - | 26% |
| John A Gupton College Private (not-for-profit), 2-4 years | Nashville, TN | $12,223 | 166 | 100.00% | 38% |
| Johnson University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Knoxville, TN | $21,122 | 978 | 65.11% | 57% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Murfreesboro, TN | $17,400 | 201 | - | 75% |
| King University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Bristol, TN | $20,397 | 1,157 | 99.72% | 48% |
| South College Private (for-profit), four-years | Knoxville, TN | $18,535 | 11,557 | - | 42% |
| Lane College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Jackson, TN | $11,790 | 738 | - | 18% |
| Le Moyne-Owen College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Memphis, TN | $12,076 | 659 | 99.23% | 27% |
| Lee University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Cleveland, TN | $23,790 | 3,714 | 70.52% | 63% |
| Lincoln Memorial University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Harrogate, TN | $26,938 | 6,081 | 62.59% | 50% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston Public, 2-4 years | Livingston, TN | $4,620 ($4,620) | 1,055 | - | 78% |
| The University of Tennessee Southern Public, four-years | Pulaski, TN | $10,924 ($10,924) | 1,046 | 86.71% | 37% |
| Maryville College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Maryville, TN | $39,284 | 1,136 | 60.92% | 50% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzie Public, 2-4 years | McKenzie, TN | $4,620 ($4,620) | 155 | - | 81% |
| Genesis Career College-Cookeville Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Cookeville, TN | $9,570 | 300 | - | 54% |
| Meharry Medical College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Nashville, TN | - | 1,226 | - | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis Public, 2-4 years | Memphis, TN | $6,537 ($6,537) | 1,960 | - | 55% |
| University of Memphis Public, four-years | Memphis, TN | $15,384 ($10,728) | 20,276 | 72.03% | 51% |
| Memphis Theological Seminary Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Memphis, TN | $11,520 | 157 | - | - |
| Middle Tennessee State University Public, four-years | Murfreesboro, TN | $31,574 ($10,266) | 20,488 | 69.09% | 54% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Morristown Public, 2-4 years | Morristown, TN | $4,320 ($4,320) | 749 | - | 80% |
| Motlow State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Tullahoma, TN | $17,722 ($4,738) | 5,980 | - | 34% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro Public, 2-4 years | Murfreesboro, TN | $7,259 ($7,259) | 928 | - | 76% |
| Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Nashville, TN | $37,021 | 967 | - | 68% |
| Nashville State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Nashville, TN | $17,714 ($4,730) | 7,533 | - | 18% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest Public, 2-4 years | Newbern, TN | $4,620 ($4,620) | 2,284 | - | 69% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Henry/Carroll Public, 2-4 years | Paris, TN | $4,620 ($4,620) | 278 | - | 75% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski Public, 2-4 years | Pulaski, TN | $4,620 ($4,620) | 742 | - | 75% |
| Rhodes College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Memphis, TN | $57,110 | 1,861 | 50.35% | 85% |
| Roane State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Harriman, TN | $18,630 ($4,998) | 5,002 | - | 36% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump Public, 2-4 years | Crump, TN | $5,760 ($5,760) | 1,659 | - | 63% |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College Public, 2-4 years | Memphis, TN | $17,750 ($4,778) | 7,004 | - | 19% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville Public, 2-4 years | Shelbyville, TN | $7,200 ($7,200) | 623 | - | 81% |
| The University of the South Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Sewanee, TN | $56,120 | 1,724 | 56.90% | 80% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Oneida-Huntsville Public, 2-4 years | Huntsville, TN | $4,174 ($4,174) | 559 | - | 74% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crossville Public, 2-4 years | Crossville, TN | $4,620 ($4,620) | 768 | - | 84% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnville Public, 2-4 years | McMinnville, TN | $5,760 ($5,760) | 812 | - | 67% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson Public, 2-4 years | Jackson, TN | $4,119 ($4,119) | 3,117 | - | 80% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville Public, 2-4 years | Knoxville, TN | $5,137 ($5,137) | 1,581 | - | 71% |
| Pellissippi State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Knoxville, TN | $17,770 ($4,786) | 9,399 | - | 31% |
| Southern Adventist University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Collegedale, TN | $27,300 | 3,229 | 65.50% | 49% |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Athens, TN | $30,814 | 1,198 | 68.85% | 48% |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Public, four-years | Chattanooga, TN | $18,512 ($10,448) | 11,775 | 81.09% | 50% |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Public, four-years | Knoxville, TN | $33,256 ($13,812) | 38,728 | 41.60% | 74% |
| The University of Tennessee-Martin Public, four-years | Martin, TN | $16,600 ($10,560) | 7,499 | 88.20% | 53% |
| Tennessee School of Beauty of Knoxville Inc Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Knoxville, TN | $16,995 | 323 | - | 82% |
| Tennessee State University Public, four-years | Nashville, TN | $22,416 ($8,616) | 6,310 | 70.11% | 34% |
| Tennessee Technological University Public, four-years | Cookeville, TN | $15,576 ($11,376) | 10,511 | 76.13% | 58% |
| Trevecca Nazarene University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Nashville, TN | $31,300 | 3,195 | 69.44% | 53% |
| Northeast State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Blountville, TN | $17,766 ($4,782) | 5,757 | - | 33% |
| Tusculum University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Greeneville, TN | $29,250 | 1,103 | 72.17% | 25% |
| Union University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Jackson, TN | $37,398 | 2,713 | 60.41% | 66% |
| Vanderbilt University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Nashville, TN | $67,498 | 13,575 | 5.86% | 94% |
| Volunteer State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Gallatin, TN | $17,740 ($4,756) | 6,963 | - | 28% |
| Walters State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Morristown, TN | $17,736 ($4,752) | 5,899 | - | 33% |
| William R Moore College of Technology Private (not-for-profit), 2-4 years | Memphis, TN | $9,723 | 468 | - | 50% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Knoxville Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Knoxville, TN | $14,900 | 87 | - | 44% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville Public, 2-4 years | Nashville, TN | $4,620 ($4,620) | 1,101 | - | 70% |
| Nossi College of Art and Design Private (for-profit), four-years | Nashville, TN | $20,350 | 247 | 46.31% | 42% |
| Mr Wayne's School of Unisex Hair Design Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Cookeville, TN | $16,500 | 20 | - | 74% |
| Genesis Career College-Lebanon Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Lebanon, TN | $17,995 | 96 | - | 59% |
| Brillare Beauty Institute Private (not-for-profit), less than 2-years | Cleveland, TN | $18,000 | 265 | - | 84% |
| Remington College-Memphis Campus Private (not-for-profit), 2-4 years | Memphis, TN | $17,083 | 331 | - | 38% |
| North Central Institute Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Clarksville, TN | $18,556 | 61 | - | 100% |
| Richmont Graduate University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Chattanooga, TN | $20,790 | 329 | - | - |
| Williamson Christian College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Franklin, TN | $16,090 | 64 | - | 67% |
| Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga Private (for-profit), four-years | Chattanooga, TN | $33,620 | 4,462 | - | 60% |
| Strayer University-Tennessee Private (for-profit), four-years | Memphis, TN | $13,920 | 1,965 | - | - |
| Lawrenceburg Technical College Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Lawrenceburg, TN | $15,568 | 128 | - | 49% |
| Remington College-Nashville Campus Private (not-for-profit), 2-4 years | Nashville, TN | $16,258 | 280 | - | 47% |
| SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville Private (for-profit), four-years | Nashville, TN | $15,828 | 1,712 | - | 42% |
| Visible Music College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Memphis, TN | $22,000 | 89 | 28.03% | 23% |
| Elite College of Cosmetology Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Lexington, TN | $16,875 | 53 | - | 79% |
| TC Beauty Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Johnson City, TN | $17,350 | 100 | - | 88% |
| Fortis Institute-Nashville Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Nashville, TN | $15,627 | 393 | - | 43% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Memphis Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Memphis, TN | $16,775 | 216 | - | 59% |
| Love Beauty School Inc Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Manchester, TN | $15,000 | 75 | - | 74% |
| Empire Beauty School-E Memphis Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Memphis, TN | $17,145 | 156 | - | 67% |
| Empire Beauty School-Nashville Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Brentwood, TN | $17,145 | 111 | - | 72% |
| Empire Beauty School-Jackson Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Jackson, TN | $17,145 | 73 | - | 41% |
| Omega Graduate School Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Dayton, TN | $6,550 | 69 | - | - |
| Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Nashville, TN | $8,745 | 805 | - | - |
| Mid-South Christian College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Memphis, TN | $11,990 | 32 | 100.00% | 60% |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Nashville Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Nashville, TN | $19,460 | 33 | - | 97% |
| Franklin Hair Academy School of Cosmetology Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Franklin, TN | $13,075 | 116 | - | 86% |
| Vibe Barber College Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Memphis, TN | $17,800 | 71 | - | 89% |
| Mind Body Institute Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Madison, TN | $10,000 | 29 | - | 75% |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Johnson City Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Johnson City, TN | $16,297 | 87 | - | 64% |
| Sandra Academy of Salon Services Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | New Tazewell, TN | $16,500 | 117 | - | 33% |
| Gould's Academy Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Memphis, TN | $11,225 | 148 | - | 80% |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Knoxville Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Knoxville, TN | $16,297 | 75 | - | 68% |
| Milligan University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Milligan, TN | $40,450 | 1,240 | 72.29% | 63% |
| The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Public, four-years | Memphis, TN | $25,644 ($12,911) | 3,101 | - | - |
| Image Maker Beauty Institute Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Hendersonville, TN | $19,100 | 74 | - | 77% |
| Nashville Film Institute Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Nashville, TN | $21,800 | 60 | - | 86% |
| Allied Health Careers Institute Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Murfreesboro, TN | $13,275 | 26 | - | 100% |
| Master's Barber & Styling College Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Old Hickory, TN | $15,750 | 26 | - | 50% |
| Massage Institute of Memphis Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Memphis, TN | $11,500 | 29 | - | 100% |
| Gould's Academy Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Bartlett, TN | $18,650 | 135 | - | 84% |
| Health-Tech Institute of Memphis Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Memphis, TN | $13,542 | 8 | - | 80% |
| Fortis Institute-Cookeville Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Cookeville, TN | $15,120 | 334 | - | 50% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro-Nashville Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Hendersonville, TN | $17,400 | 237 | - | 74% |
| Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus Private (for-profit), four-years | Nashville, TN | $17,048 | 1,027 | - | - |
| Academy of Allied Health Careers Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Chattanooga, TN | $9,525 | 194 | - | 65% |
| Sweetwater Institute of Cosmetology Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Sweetwater, TN | $12,000 | 22 | - | 78% |
| Studio 75 Hair Academy Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Millington, TN | $15,000 | 14 | - | 54% |
| Herzing University-Nashville Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Nashville, TN | $13,450 | 201 | 92.73% | - |
| Casa Loma College - Nashville Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Nashville, TN | $47,355 | - | - | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jacksboro Public, less than 2-years | LaFollette, TN | $2,274 ($2,274) | - | - | - |
| South College-Nashville Private (for-profit), four-years | Nashville, TN | $18,535 | - | - | - |
| Strayer University-Nashville Campus Private (for-profit), four-years | Nashville, TN | $13,920 | - | - | - |
| Strayer University-Shelby Oaks Campus Private (for-profit), four-years | Memphis, TN | $13,920 | - | - | - |
| Strayer University-Knoxville Campus Private (for-profit), four-years | Knoxville, TN | $13,920 | - | - | - |
| Jersey College - Cleveland Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Cleveland, TN | $49,275 | - | - | - |
| Jersey College - Knoxville Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Knoxville, TN | $49,275 | - | - | - |
Related Tennessee Statistics
- Graduation Rate Statistics Comparison Between Tennessee Best Schools
- Graduation Rate Statistics Comparison Between All Tennessee Schools
- Core Statistics for College Graduation Rate Stats at Tennessee
- Average Tennessee Graduation Rate Statistics
- Colleges with Highest Graduation Rate in Tennessee
- Colleges with Lowest Graduation Rate in Tennessee
- Lowest Students to Faculty Ratio in Tennessee
- Highest Students to Faculty Ratio in Tennessee