Colleges in Nashville, Tennessee
24 colleges and universities — federal Scorecard data.
There are 24 colleges and universities in Nashville, Tennessee (12 Private nonprofit, 9 Private for-profit, 3 Public). 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 24 institutions, the median net price after grants and scholarships works out to about $24,044 per year, the median 6-year graduation rate is 47.1%, schools that report admissions data accept a median 69% of applicants.
The median net price in Nashville runs about $8,791 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 Nashville, the table below lets you sort every institution side-by-side on cost, admissions, graduation rate, and size.
Median net price
$24,044
After aid
Median grad rate
47.1%
6-year
Median admission rate
69%
Median enrollment
886
Undergrad
All colleges in Nashville
Sorted by enrollment.
| School | State | Type | Net price | Grad rate | Admission | Size | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN | TN | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $15,846 | 93.5% | 6% | 7,208 | Complete | |
| Belmont University Nashville, TN | TN | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $33,147 | 70.7% | 95% | 7,137 | Complete | |
| Nashville State Community College Nashville, TN | TN | Public, 2-year | $6,777 | 18.5% | Not available | 5,653 | Partial | |
| Tennessee State University Nashville, TN | TN | Public, 4-year | $15,796 | 34.0% | 70% | 4,848 | Complete | |
| Lipscomb University Nashville, TN | TN | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $24,739 | 72.2% | 68% | 2,997 | Complete | |
| Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville, TN | TN | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $16,813 | 53.1% | 69% | 1,737 | Complete | |
| SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville Nashville, TN | TN | Private for-profit, 4-year | $24,700 | 41.7% | Not available | 1,712 | Complete | |
| Fisk University Nashville, TN | TN | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $32,020 | 29.9% | 37% | 1,035 | Complete | |
| Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus Nashville, TN | TN | Private for-profit, 4-year | $27,267 | Not available | Not available | 1,027 | Partial | |
| Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville Nashville, TN | TN | Private for-profit, 2-year | $32,544 | 67.7% | Not available | 967 | Partial | |
| Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting Nashville, TN | TN | Private for-profit, 2-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | 805 | Partial | |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville Nashville, TN | TN | Public, 2-year | $15,816 | 70.3% | Not available | 759 | Partial | |
| Fortis Institute-Nashville Nashville, TN | TN | Private for-profit, 2-year | $29,039 | 42.7% | Not available | 393 | Partial | |
| Remington College-Nashville Campus Nashville, TN | TN | Private nonprofit, 2-year | $29,098 | 47.1% | Not available | 280 | Partial | |
| Nossi College of Art and Design Nashville, TN | TN | Private for-profit, 4-year | $24,044 | 41.8% | 46% | 247 | Complete | |
| Herzing University-Nashville Nashville, TN | TN | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $20,537 | Not available | 93% | 201 | Complete | |
| John A Gupton College Nashville, TN | TN | Private nonprofit, 2-year | $19,334 | 38.5% | 100% | 166 | Complete | |
| Nashville Film Institute Nashville, TN | TN | Private for-profit, 2-year | $25,472 | 86.4% | Not available | 60 | Partial | |
| American Baptist College Nashville, TN | TN | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $9,216 | 38.9% | Not available | 46 | Complete | |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Nashville Nashville, TN | TN | Private for-profit, <2-year | $12,103 | 96.8% | Not available | 33 | Partial | |
| Meharry Medical College Nashville, TN | TN | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Casa Loma College - Nashville Nashville, TN | TN | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | 43% | Not available | Partial | |
| South College-Nashville Nashville, TN | TN | Private for-profit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Relay Graduate School of Education - Nashville Nashville, TN | TN | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing |
By institution type
Private nonprofit (12)
Private nonprofit colleges in Nashville are mission-driven institutions — often religiously affiliated or research-focused — that reinvest tuition into academics and aid rather than distributing profit.
- Vanderbilt UniversityNet price: $15,846Grad: 93.5%
- Belmont UniversityNet price: $33,147Grad: 70.7%
- Lipscomb UniversityNet price: $24,739Grad: 72.2%
- Trevecca Nazarene UniversityNet price: $16,813Grad: 53.1%
- Fisk UniversityNet price: $32,020Grad: 29.9%
- Remington College-Nashville CampusNet price: $29,098Grad: 47.1%
- Herzing University-NashvilleNet price: $20,537Grad: Not available
- John A Gupton CollegeNet price: $19,334Grad: 38.5%
- American Baptist CollegeNet price: $9,216Grad: 38.9%
- Meharry Medical CollegeNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Casa Loma College - NashvilleNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Relay Graduate School of Education - NashvilleNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Private for-profit (9)
Private for-profit colleges in Nashville operate as businesses, generally focused on career-oriented and online programs with rolling admissions.
- SAE Institute of Technology-NashvilleNet price: $24,700Grad: 41.7%
- Galen Health Institutes-Nashville CampusNet price: $27,267Grad: Not available
- Lincoln College of Technology-NashvilleNet price: $32,544Grad: 67.7%
- Meridian Institute of Surgical AssistingNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Fortis Institute-NashvilleNet price: $29,039Grad: 42.7%
- Nossi College of Art and DesignNet price: $24,044Grad: 41.8%
- Nashville Film InstituteNet price: $25,472Grad: 86.4%
- The Salon Professional Academy-NashvilleNet price: $12,103Grad: 96.8%
- South College-NashvilleNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Public (3)
Public colleges in Nashville are state- or locally-funded institutions that typically offer lower in-state tuition and serve a broad mix of residents and commuters.
- Nashville State Community CollegeNet price: $6,777Grad: 18.5%
- Tennessee State UniversityNet price: $15,796Grad: 34.0%
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology NashvilleNet price: $15,816Grad: 70.3%
Top programs in Nashville
Most-completed programs across Nashville colleges, weighted by enrollment.
- Health professions15.1% of degrees
- Visual & performing arts12.1% of degrees
- Business8.9% of degrees
- Liberal arts8.2% of degrees
- Social sciences7.7% of degrees
- Communications tech5.8% of degrees
- Biological sciences4.8% of degrees
- Computer science4.3% of degrees
Frequently asked questions about colleges in Nashville
Q.How many colleges are in Nashville, Tennessee?
There are 24 colleges and universities in Nashville, Tennessee that report to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — 12 Private nonprofit, 9 Private for-profit, 3 Public.
Q.What is the largest college in Nashville?
By undergraduate enrollment, Vanderbilt University is the largest institution in Nashville with roughly 7,208 undergraduates.
Q.What is the cheapest college in Nashville?
Based on average net price after aid, Nashville State Community College is the most affordable institution in Nashville at $6,777 per year.
Q.Which Nashville college has the highest graduation rate?
The Salon Professional Academy-Nashville reports the highest 6-year graduation rate among Nashville institutions at 96.8%.
Q.What is the average tuition in Nashville?
The median net price across all 24 colleges in Nashville is $24,044 per year after grants and scholarships.
Q.What are the most popular college majors in Nashville?
Across Nashville colleges, the most-completed programs by share of degrees awarded are Health professions, Visual & performing arts, Business.
Q.Are there community colleges in Nashville?
Yes — Nashville 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 Nashville 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.