Colleges in Knoxville, Tennessee
8 colleges and universities — federal Scorecard data.
There are 8 colleges and universities in Knoxville, Tennessee (4 Private for-profit, 3 Public, 1 Private nonprofit). The figures below are pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — the same federal dataset colleges are required to report to.
Across all 8 institutions, the median net price after grants and scholarships works out to about $18,976 per year, the median 6-year graduation rate is 68.3%, schools that report admissions data accept a median 65% of applicants.
The median net price in Knoxville runs about $3,723 higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $15,253.
Whether you're comparing in-state public tuition, looking for a private nonprofit with strong outcomes, or trying to find the right program in Knoxville, the table below lets you sort every institution side-by-side on cost, admissions, graduation rate, and size.
Median net price
$18,976
After aid
Median grad rate
68.3%
6-year
Median admission rate
65%
Median enrollment
887
Undergrad
All colleges in Knoxville
Sorted by enrollment.
| School | State | Type | Net price | Grad rate | Admission | Size | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TN | TN | Public, 4-year | $18,976 | 73.9% | 42% | 30,418 | Complete | |
| South College Knoxville, TN | TN | Private for-profit, 4-year | $17,858 | 42.1% | Not available | 8,745 | Complete | |
| Pellissippi State Community College Knoxville, TN | TN | Public, 2-year | $4,983 | 31.5% | Not available | 6,715 | Partial | |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville Knoxville, TN | TN | Public, 2-year | $20,012 | 71.2% | Not available | 887 | Partial | |
| Johnson University Knoxville, TN | TN | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $22,063 | 56.8% | 65% | 743 | Complete | |
| Tennessee School of Beauty of Knoxville Inc Knoxville, TN | TN | Private for-profit, <2-year | $10,052 | 81.7% | Not available | 323 | Partial | |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Knoxville Knoxville, TN | TN | Private for-profit, <2-year | $20,277 | 68.3% | Not available | 75 | Partial | |
| Jersey College - Knoxville Knoxville, TN | TN | Private for-profit, 2-year | Not available | Not available | 68% | Not available | Partial |
By institution type
Private for-profit (4)
Private for-profit colleges in Knoxville operate as businesses, generally focused on career-oriented and online programs with rolling admissions.
- South CollegeNet price: $17,858Grad: 42.1%
- Tennessee School of Beauty of Knoxville IncNet price: $10,052Grad: 81.7%
- Ross Medical Education Center-KnoxvilleNet price: $20,277Grad: 68.3%
- Jersey College - KnoxvilleNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Public (3)
Public colleges in Knoxville are state- or locally-funded institutions that typically offer lower in-state tuition and serve a broad mix of residents and commuters.
- The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleNet price: $18,976Grad: 73.9%
- Pellissippi State Community CollegeNet price: $4,983Grad: 31.5%
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology-KnoxvilleNet price: $20,012Grad: 71.2%
Private nonprofit (1)
Private nonprofit colleges in Knoxville are mission-driven institutions — often religiously affiliated or research-focused — that reinvest tuition into academics and aid rather than distributing profit.
- Johnson UniversityNet price: $22,063Grad: 56.8%
Top programs in Knoxville
Most-completed programs across Knoxville colleges, weighted by enrollment.
- Health professions22.2% of degrees
- Business19.9% of degrees
- Liberal arts6.7% of degrees
- Engineering6.3% of degrees
- Communication4.4% of degrees
- Social sciences4.4% of degrees
- Parks & recreation4.2% of degrees
- Biological sciences3.9% of degrees
Frequently asked questions about colleges in Knoxville
Q.How many colleges are in Knoxville, Tennessee?
There are 8 colleges and universities in Knoxville, Tennessee that report to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — 4 Private for-profit, 3 Public, 1 Private nonprofit.
Q.What is the largest college in Knoxville?
By undergraduate enrollment, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is the largest institution in Knoxville with roughly 30,418 undergraduates.
Q.What is the cheapest college in Knoxville?
Based on average net price after aid, Pellissippi State Community College is the most affordable institution in Knoxville at $4,983 per year.
Q.Which Knoxville college has the highest graduation rate?
Tennessee School of Beauty of Knoxville Inc reports the highest 6-year graduation rate among Knoxville institutions at 81.7%.
Q.What is the average tuition in Knoxville?
The median net price across all 8 colleges in Knoxville is $18,976 per year after grants and scholarships.
Q.What are the most popular college majors in Knoxville?
Across Knoxville colleges, the most-completed programs by share of degrees awarded are Health professions, Business, Liberal arts.
Q.Are there community colleges in Knoxville?
Yes — Knoxville includes 3 public institutions, many of which offer 2-year associate degrees and transfer pathways to 4-year programs.
Other cities in Tennessee
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS. Medians are computed across institutions in Knoxville that report each metric. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with each institution.