Tennessee is a state with a diverse education system that caters to the needs of its residents. The state is home to several large public colleges that provide quality education to students from across the country. In this BrokeScholar article, we will explore the ten largest public colleges in Tennessee, their history, academic programs, and campus life.
Top 10 Largest Public Colleges in Tennessee
In order to identify the 10 largest public colleges in Tennessee, we turned to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for data on all public colleges — both four-year and two-year schools — and focused on the 10 institutions with the largest total student populations. Some of these large public colleges ranked among the best colleges in Tennessee in a separate BrokeScholar study.
Some of the most beneficial features of large public colleges in Tennessee is that, if you are an in-state resident student, your cost of tuition will generally be more affordable than the cost for an out-of-state student. Additionally, large public colleges tend to have economies of scale to support robust academic departments, programs, and research projects.
So, let’s dive into the 10 largest public colleges in Tennessee, arranged in order of their total student populations.
1. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Total student population: 31,701
Cost of tuition and required fees per academic year: $13,244 for in-state | $31,664 for out-of-state
Graduation rate: 72%
Acceptance rate: 75%
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, also known as UT-Knoxville, was founded in 1794 and is the flagship campus of the University of Tennessee System. As its name suggests, the university is located in Knoxville, a vibrant city that is home to several cultural attractions and outdoor recreation opportunities.
UT-Knoxville offers over 300 degree programs through its eleven colleges, including the College of Arts and Sciences, Haslam College of Business, and Tickle College of Engineering. The university is also home to several prestigious research centers and institutes, including the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, the Center for Advanced Manufacturing, and the Institute for Biomedical Engineering. According to NCES data, in the last academic year, the greatest number of bachelor’s degrees were awarded in the field of Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management, with 361 degrees conferred.
2. University of Memphis
Total student population: 21,622
Cost of tuition and required fees per academic year: $10,056 for in-state | $14,280 for out-of-state
Graduation rate: 54%
Acceptance rate: 95%
The University of Memphis, also known as UofM, is a public research university located in Memphis, Tennessee. The university was founded in 1912 and has a rich history of providing high-quality education to students from across the country. The costs of tuition and required fees are comparatively affordable at the University of Memphis, both for in-state and out-of-state students.
UofM offers over 250 academic programs through its twelve colleges and schools, including the College of Arts and Sciences, the Fogelman College of Business and Economics, and the Herff College of Engineering. The university is also home to several research centers and institutes, including the FedEx Institute of Technology, the Institute for Intelligent Systems, and the Institute of Egyptian Art and Archaeology.
In addition to its academic programs, UofM has a thriving campus life that includes over 300 student organizations, club sports, and intramural sports. The university is also home to several Greek organizations and hosts several cultural events throughout the year, including the Africa in April Cultural Awareness Festival and the Memphis Music and Heritage Festival.
3. Middle Tennessee State University
Total student population: 21,568
Cost of tuition and required fees per academic year: $9,232 for in-state | $28,264 for out-of-state
Graduation rate: 54%
Acceptance rate: 68%
Middle Tennessee State University, also known as MTSU, is a public university located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The university was founded in 1911 and has a long history of providing high-quality education to students from across the state. Its undergraduate acceptance rate of 68% is notably competitive for a big public college, though its graduation rate isn’t as high as the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
MTSU offers over 300 academic programs through its nine colleges, including the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, the College of Business, and the College of Education. The university is also home to several research centers and institutes, including the Center for Accelerated Language Acquisition, the Center for Health and Human Services, and the Center for Historic Preservation.
Some of the main bachelor's degrees awarded in the last academic year at MTSU include: 259 awarded in Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other; 218 awarded in Business Administration and Management, General; and 218 awarded in Psychology, General.
4. East Tennessee State University
Total student population: 13,303
Cost of tuition and required fees per academic year: $9,674 for in-state | $13,484 for out-of-state
Graduation rate: 51%
Acceptance rate: 87%
East Tennessee State University, also known as ETSU, is a public university located in Johnson City, Tennessee. The university was founded in 1911 and has a long history of providing high-quality education to students from across the region.
ETSU offers over 150 academic programs through its eleven colleges and schools, including the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and Technology, and the College of Nursing. The university is also home to several research centers and institutes, including the Center for Appalachian Studies and the Center for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment.
Majoring in nursing is the top bachelor’s degree awarded at ETSU. According to NCES data, in the last academic year, 502 bachelor’s degrees were conferred for majors in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
5. The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Total student population: 11,457
Cost of tuition and required fees per academic year: $9,848 for in-state | $25,966 for out-of-state
Graduation rate: 54%
Acceptance rate: 86%
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, also known as UTC, is a public university located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The university was founded in 1886 and, like the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, is part of the larger University of Tennessee school system.
UTC offers over 150 academic programs through its six colleges, including the College of Arts and Sciences, the Gary W. Rollins College of Business, and the College of Engineering and Computer Science. The university is also home to several research centers and institutes, including the SimCenter: National Center for Computational Engineering and the Center for Community Career Education.
The university is also home to several Greek organizations and hosts several cultural events throughout the year, including the Chattanooga Film Festival and the Nightfall Concert Series. Some of the most popular majors include: 211 bachelor’s degrees awarded in Exercise Science and Kinesiology in the last academic year; 186 awarded in Business Administration and Management, General; and 121 awarded in Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
6. Tennessee Technological University
Total student population: 9,840
Cost of tuition and required fees per academic year: $9,802 for in-state | $19,834 for out-of-state
Graduation rate: 60%
Acceptance rate: 79%
Tennessee Technological University, also known as Tennessee Tech, is a public university located in Cookeville, Tennessee. The university was founded in 1915 and boasts a better-than-average graduation rate of 60%. The university also features a fairly high retention rate, at 73%.
Tennessee Tech offers over 80 academic programs through its six colleges, including the College of Agriculture and Human Ecology, the College of Business, and the College of Engineering. The university is also home to several research centers and institutes, including the Center for Manufacturing Research and the Center for Energy Systems Research.
Considering Tennessee Tech is a technological school, it’s not surprising that the top area of study, in terms of bachelor’s degrees conferred, is Mechanical Engineering, with 131 degrees awarded in the last academic year. However, thanks to Tennessee Tech’s College of Business, bachelor's degrees awarded in Business Administration and Management, General, was also very high, at 121 degrees conferred in the last academic year.
7. Austin Peay State University
Total student population: 9,609
Cost of tuition and required fees per academic year: $8,431 for in-state | $13,975 for out-of-state
Graduation rate: 42%
Acceptance rate: 93%
Austin Peay State University, also known as APSU, is a public university located in Clarksville, Tennessee. The university was founded in 1927 and has one of the smallest gaps between its tuition price for in-state students versus out-of-state students, with the latter costing only about $5,500 more per year than an in-state student.
APSU offers over 100 academic programs through its six colleges, including the College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, and the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The university is also home to several research centers and institutes, including the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts and the Center for Community, Service, and Learning. Some of APSU’s most popular majors include: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, with 165 bachelor’s degrees awarded in the last academic year; Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General, with 150 bachelor’s degrees awarded; and Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, with 93 degrees awarded.
APSU has a spirited campus life that includes over 150 student organizations, club sports, and intramural sports. The university is also home to several Greek organizations and hosts several cultural events throughout the year, including the Downtown @ Sundown Concert Series and the International Night Festival.
8. Pellissippi State Community College
Total student population: 8,835
Cost of tuition and required fees per academic year: $4,456 for in-state | $17,272 for out-of-state
Graduation rate: 30%
Acceptance rate: 100%
Pellissippi State Community College is a public community college located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The college was founded in 1974 and is a two-year college, offering degrees up to the associate’s level.
Pellissippi State offers over 80 academic programs through its five academic divisions, including the Business and Computer Technology Division, the Engineering and Media Technologies Division, and the Humanities Division. The college is also home to several specialized centers and programs, including the Business and Community Services Division and the Tennessee Small Business Development Center.
Looking at the main areas of study that earned associate’s degrees, by far the most popular is Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, with 878 associate’s degrees conferred in the last academic year alone. With academic divisions like the Business and Computer Technology Division and the Engineering and Media Technologies Division, it makes sense that 94 associate’s degrees were awarded in Communications Technology/Technician in the last academic year.
9. Tennessee State University
Total student population: 8,077
Cost of tuition and required fees per academic year: $8,336 for in-state | $21,692 for out-of-state
Graduation rate: 30%
Acceptance rate: 100%
Tennessee State University, also known as TSU, is a public university located in Nashville, Tennessee. The university was founded in 1912 and has a long history of providing high-quality education to students from across the state.
TSU offers over 80 academic programs through its eight colleges and schools, including the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences, the College of Business, and the College of Education. The university is also home to several research centers and institutes, including the Center of Excellence for Information Systems, the Center of Excellence for Learning Sciences, and the Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development.
Considering that TSU has eight colleges and schools, it’s not surprising the pattern that emerges in terms of bachelor’s degrees. With its College of Business, TSU awarded 81 bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and Management, General, in the last academic year; 65 were awarded in Psychology, General; and 47 awarded in Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other.
10. Volunteer State Community College
Total student population: 7,417
Cost of tuition and required fees per academic year: $4,404 for in-state | $17,220 for out-of-state
Graduation rate: 23%
Acceptance rate: 100%
Volunteer State Community College is a public community college located in Gallatin, Tennessee. The college was founded in 1971 and has a long history of providing high-quality education to students from across the region. Being a two-year community college, Volunteer State Community College only awards degrees up to the associate’s level.
Volunteer State offers over 100 academic programs through its four academic divisions, including the Business and Technology Division, the Humanities Division, and the Health Sciences Division. The college is also home to several specialized centers and programs, including the Center for Economic and Community Development and the Center for Teaching and Learning.
On top of its academic programs, Volunteer State has a lively campus life that includes over 30 student organizations, club sports, and intramural sports. The college also hosts several cultural events throughout the year, including the International Festival and the Fall Festival of Nations.
The Bottom Line on Large Public Colleges in Tennessee
Tennessee is home to several large public colleges that provide high-quality education to students from across the country. Each of the ten colleges highlighted in this article has a unique history, academic programs, and campus life that make them an attractive choice for prospective students.
One interesting detail to point out is the wide variance in the cost of tuition for an in-state student versus an out-of-state student among these 10 large public colleges in Tennessee. For example, the college with the smallest difference in tuition costs is East Tennessee State University, with out-of-state tuition costing around $3,800 more than in-state tuition. On the other hand, at Middle Tennessee State University, the difference is very large, with out-of-state tuition costing over $19,000 more than in-state tuition.
Fortunately, all of these schools’ tuition costs can be reduced if you apply for and win a college scholarship. At the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, for instance, 91% of full-time beginning students receive grant or scholarship aid. Thus, whether you are interested in a research university, a community college, or something in between, large public colleges in Tennessee have something to offer.
