The top 20 universities and colleges in Tennessee represent a mix of private and public schools from all corners of the state, according to the latest Niche rankings.
Niche, a ranking and review organization, released its "Best Colleges in America" list on Aug. 25. The rankings consider data from the U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation, reviews from students and alumni of the schools, tuition and financial aid information, and stastics on enrollment, graduation and alumni earning, according to an Aug. 25 news release from the organization.
"Our rankings are designed to reflect not just data, but the real voices and lived experiences of students across the country," Niche founder and CEO Luke Skurman said in the release. "That blend of insight is what makes Niche unique."
First, a word from an expert on school rankings
However, experts have criticized rankings that rely on surveys in recent years, saying they are subjective and tend to favor schools in wealthier, less diverse neighborhoods. That can be due to a wide range of factors, from schools having enough resources and connections to solicit reviews to people having an internet connection to submit them.
Generally speaking, University of Massachusetts professor, historian and policy analyst Jack Schneider said rankings don't paint the full picture of what schools have to offer. For example, if rankings include surveys or reviews as part of their methodology, Schneider said, they may only be measuring the extremes of how people see them.
"Students and their families know a lot about the school that they attend," Schneider, who has studied the public perceptions of schools, said. "But unless you have a representative sample of people who are weighing in, you may only be getting the people that are the happiest or the most grumpy."
And while ranking lists can be a starting point, Schneider said people should approach them with skepticism and do their own research, as well.
With that in mind, here's a look at how Tennessee colleges and universities fared on the 2026 Niche rankings.
Top 20 Tennessee colleges, according to Niche
The top 20 colleges and universities in Tennessee on Niche's list also made the top 800 on its national list, which includes around 6,500 schools.
Vanderbilt University (Nashville, private, No. 7 nationally)
University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Knoxville, public, No. 127 nationally)
Union University (Jackson, private, No. 176 nationally)
Rhodes College (Memphis, private, No. 183 nationally)
Lipscomb University (Nashville, private, No. 188 nationally)
Tennessee Technological University (Cookeville, public, No. 233 nationally)
Johnson University (Knoxville, private, No. 312 nationally)
Lincoln Memorial University (Harrogate, private, No. 314 nationally)
The University of the South (Sewanee, private, No. 317 nationally)
Lee University (Cleveland, private, No. 326 nationally)
University of Memphis (Memphis, public, No. 335 nationally)
University of Tennessee at Martin (Martin, public, No. 384 nationally)
Middle Tennessee State University (Murfreesboro, public, No. 387 nationally)
East Tennessee State University (Johnson City, public, No. 437 nationally)
Southern Adventist University (Collegedale, private, No. 618 nationally)
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (Chattanooga, public, No. 628 nationally)
Freed-Hardeman University (Henderson, private, No. 748 nationally)
King University (Bristol, private, No. 762 nationally)
Tennessee Wesleyan University (Athens, private, No. 771 nationally)
South College (Knoxville, private, No. 777 nationally)
More: These five Tennessee universities made Princeton Review's best colleges list
Learn more
See Niche's full list of "The Best Colleges in America" and find more information, including breakdowns by state, major, student life, athletics and value, at niche.com/colleges.
Rachel Wegner covers education and children's issues for The Tennessean. Got a story you think she should hear? Reach her via email at [email protected]. You can also find her on X or Bluesky under the handle RachelAnnWegner.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Best colleges in Tennessee: See top 20 schools, per Niche
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