Public Universities and Colleges
This section includes state-supported institutions, often part of the University of Tennessee system or the Tennessee Board of Regents system.
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Austin Peay State University
- Location: Clarksville
- Control: Public
- Type: Master's university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 9,945
- Founded: 1927
- Note: Offers various academic programs and campus tour options.
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East Tennessee State University
- Location: Johnson City
- Control: Public
- Type: Research university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 13,586
- Founded: 1911
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Middle Tennessee State University
- Location: Murfreesboro
- Control: Public
- Type: Research university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 20,183
- Founded: 1911
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Tennessee State University
- Location: Nashville
- Control: Public (Historically Black College/University - HBCU)
- Type: Research university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 8,198
- Founded: 1912
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Tennessee Technological University
- Location: Cookeville
- Control: Public
- Type: Research university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 10,117
- Founded: 1915
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University of Memphis
- Location: Memphis
- Control: Public
- Type: Research university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 21,736
- Founded: 1912
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University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
- Location: Chattanooga
- Control: Public
- Type: Doctoral/Professional university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 11,380 (UT system site notes over 11,800 students)
- Founded: 1886
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University of Tennessee Health Science Center
- Location: Memphis (main campus), with regional campuses and sites statewide
- Control: Public
- Type: Special-focus institution
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 3,121
- Founded: 1911
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University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Location: Knoxville
- Control: Public (Flagship university of the UT System)
- Type: Research university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 36,304 (UT system site notes over 38,000 students)
- Founded: 1794
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University of Tennessee at Martin
- Location: Martin, with six regional centers
- Control: Public
- Type: Master's university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 6,941 (UT system site notes 7,500 students)
- Founded: 1900
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University of Tennessee Southern
- Location: Pulaski
- Control: Public
- Type: Baccalaureate college
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 978 (UT system site notes over 1,000 students)
- Founded: 1870 (as Martin Methodist College, joined UT System in 2021)
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Jackson State Community College
- Location: Jackson
- Control: Public
- Type: Community College
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): Approx. 4,000-5,000 (specific recent figure varies by source)
- Founded: 1967
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Northeast State Community College
- Location: Blountville
- Control: Public
- Type: Community College
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): Approx. 5,000-6,000
- Founded: 1966
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Pellissippi State Community College
- Location: Knoxville (multiple campuses)
- Control: Public
- Type: Community College
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): Approx. 10,000+
- Founded: 1974
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Volunteer State Community College
- Location: Gallatin (multiple campuses)
- Control: Public
- Type: Community College
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): Approx. 7,000-8,000
- Founded: 1971
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Walters State Community College
- Location: Morristown (multiple campuses)
- Control: Public
- Type: Community College
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): Approx. 5,000-6,000
- Founded: 1970
Private Universities and Colleges
This section includes independent institutions, some with religious affiliations.
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American Baptist College
- Location: Nashville
- Control: Private (Baptist)
- Type: Baccalaureate college
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 48
- Founded: 1924
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Aquinas College
- Location: Nashville
- Control: Private (Roman Catholic)
- Type: Baccalaureate college (historically conferred associate's and bachelor's degrees)
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): Not readily available in recent summaries, traditionally small.
- Founded: 1961
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Baptist Health Sciences University
- Location: Memphis
- Control: Private (Baptist)
- Type: Special-focus institution
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 755
- Founded: 1912
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Belmont University
- Location: Nashville
- Control: Private (Nondenominational)
- Type: Doctoral/Professional university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 8,862
- Founded: 1890
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Bethel University
- Location: McKenzie
- Control: Private (Presbyterian - Cumberland Presbyterian Church)
- Type: Master's university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 2,974
- Founded: 1842
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Bryan College
- Location: Dayton
- Control: Private (Nondenominational)
- Type: Baccalaureate college
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 1,548
- Founded: 1930
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Carson-Newman University
- Location: Jefferson City
- Control: Private (Baptist)
- Type: Doctoral/Professional university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 2,735
- Founded: 1851
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Christian Brothers University
- Location: Memphis
- Control: Private (Catholic)
- Type: Master's university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 2,043
- Founded: 1871
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Crichton College
- Location: Memphis (Historically)
- Control: Private (Historically)
- Note: Crichton College closed in 2014. Its records are typically held by another institution.
- Founded: 1941 (Closed 2014)
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Crown College
- Location: Powell
- Control: Private (Independent Baptist)
- Type: Special-focus institution (Bible College)
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): Not available in summary table, typically a few hundred.
- Founded: 1991
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Cumberland University
- Location: Lebanon
- Control: Private
- Type: Master's university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 3,072
- Founded: 1842
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Fisk University
- Location: Nashville
- Control: Private (Historically Black College/University - HBCU)
- Type: Baccalaureate college
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 1,005
- Founded: 1866
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Freed-Hardeman University
- Location: Henderson
- Control: Private (Churches of Christ)
- Type: Master's university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 2,294
- Founded: 1869
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Welch College
- Location: Gallatin
- Control: Private (Free Will Baptist)
- Type: Baccalaureate college
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): Around 300-400
- Founded: 1942
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Harding School of Theology
- Location: Memphis
- Control: Private (Churches of Christ)
- Type: Special-focus institution (Seminary)
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): Not available in summary table, typically around 100-200.
- Founded: 1952
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Johnson University
- Location: Knoxville
- Control: Private (Christian Churches)
- Type: Master's university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 950
- Founded: 1893
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King University
- Location: Bristol
- Control: Private (Presbyterian & E.P.C.)
- Type: Master's university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 1,295
- Founded: 1867
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Knoxville College
- Location: Knoxville
- Control: Private (Historically Black College/University - HBCU)
- Type: Historically a baccalaureate college (currently working on regaining accreditation and expanding programs)
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): Very small, specific number not readily available.
- Founded: 1875
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Lambuth University
- Location: Jackson (Historically)
- Control: Private (Historically Methodist)
- Note: Lambuth University closed in 2011. The campus is now a branch campus of the University of Memphis.
- Founded: 1843 (Closed 2011)
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Lane College
- Location: Jackson
- Control: Private (C.M.E.) (Historically Black College/University - HBCU)
- Type: Baccalaureate college
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 822
- Founded: 1888
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Lee University
- Location: Cleveland
- Control: Private (Church of God)
- Type: Master's university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 3,680
- Founded: 1918
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LeMoyne-Owen College
- Location: Memphis
- Control: Private (United Church of Christ) (Historically Black College/University - HBCU)
- Type: Baccalaureate college
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 646
- Founded: 1862
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Lincoln Memorial University
- Location: Harrogate
- Control: Private
- Type: Doctoral/Professional university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 5,805
- Founded: 1897
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Lipscomb University
- Location: Nashville
- Control: Private (Churches of Christ)
- Type: Doctoral/Professional university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 5,047
- Founded: 1891
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Maryville College
- Location: Maryville
- Control: Private (Presbyterian)
- Type: Baccalaureate college
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 1,147
- Founded: 1819
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Meharry Medical College
- Location: Nashville
- Control: Private (Methodist) (Historically Black College/University - HBCU)
- Type: Special-focus institution
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 1,083
- Founded: 1876
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Memphis College of Art
- Location: Memphis (Historically)
- Control: Private (Historically)
- Note: Memphis College of Art closed in 2020.
- Founded: 1936 (Closed 2020)
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Memphis Theological Seminary
- Location: Cordova
- Control: Private (Presbyterian - Cumberland Presbyterian Church)
- Type: Special-focus institution
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 195
- Founded: 1852
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Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary
- Location: Cordova
- Control: Private (Baptist)
- Type: Special-focus institution
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): Not available in summary table, typically a few hundred.
- Founded: 1971
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Mid-South Christian College
- Location: Memphis
- Control: Private (Christian Churches)
- Type: Special-focus institution (Bible College)
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 32
- Founded: 1959
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Milligan University
- Location: Carter County/Elizabethton
- Control: Private (Christian Churches)
- Type: Master's university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 1,200
- Founded: 1866 (as Milligan College)
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Nashville School of Law
- Location: Nashville
- Control: Private
- Type: Special-focus institution (Law)
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): Not available in summary table, typically a few hundred.
- Founded: 1911
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New College Franklin
- Location: Franklin (not Nashville as previously might be implied)
- Control: Private (Nondenominational Christian)
- Type: Baccalaureate college
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): Very small, specific number not readily available.
- Founded: 2009
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Omega Graduate School
- Location: Dayton
- Control: Private
- Type: Special-focus institution (Graduate - Social Research)
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 62
- Founded: 1980
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Pentecostal Theological Seminary
- Location: Cleveland
- Control: Private (Church of God)
- Type: Special-focus institution
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 501
- Founded: 1975
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Rhodes College
- Location: Memphis
- Control: Private
- Type: Baccalaureate college
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 1,952
- Founded: 1848
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Sewanee: The University of the South
- Location: Sewanee
- Control: Private (Episcopal)
- Type: Baccalaureate college
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 1,693
- Founded: 1857
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South College
- Location: Knoxville (multiple campuses including online)
- Control: Private (For-profit)
- Type: Doctoral/Professional university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 8,234
- Founded: 1882
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Southern Adventist University
- Location: Collegedale
- Control: Private (Adventist)
- Type: Master's university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 3,154
- Founded: 1892
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Southern College of Optometry
- Location: Memphis
- Control: Private
- Type: Special-focus institution
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): 525
- Founded: 1932
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Tennessee Bible College
- Location: Cookeville
- Control: Private (Churches of Christ)
- Type: Special-focus institution (Bible College)
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): Not available in summary table, typically small.
- Founded: 1975
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Tennessee Temple University
- Location: Chattanooga (Historically)
- Control: Private (Historically Baptist)
- Note: Tennessee Temple University closed in 2015 and merged with Carolina University (formerly Piedmont International University).
- Founded: 1946 (Closed/Merged 2015)
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Tennessee Wesleyan University
- Location: Athens
- Control: Private (Methodist)
- Type: Master's university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): Approx. 1,100-1,200
- Founded: 1857
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Trevecca Nazarene University
- Location: Nashville
- Control: Private (Nazarene)
- Type: Doctoral/Professional university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): Approx. 4,000+
- Founded: 1901
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Tusculum University
- Location: Greeneville
- Control: Private (Presbyterian affiliation historically)
- Type: Master's university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): Approx. 1,400-1,500
- Founded: 1794
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Union University
- Location: Jackson
- Control: Private (Baptist)
- Type: Doctoral/Professional university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): Approx. 3,000-4,000
- Founded: 1823
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Vanderbilt University
- Location: Nashville
- Control: Private
- Type: Research university
- Enrollment (Fall 2022): Approx. 13,000-14,000
- Founded: 1873
Other Noteworthy Institutions (e.g., specialized, vocational)
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Nashville Auto-Diesel College (NADC)
- Location: Nashville
- Control: Private (For-profit, part of Lincoln Educational Services)
- Type: Vocational/Technical
- Note: The original nadcedu.com now redirects to Lincoln Tech. Offers specialized training.
- Founded: 1919
Note: Enrollment figures are approximate for Fall 2022 or the most recent available data and can fluctuate. "Not available in summary table" often refers to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) which may not list all smaller or highly specialized institutions. Some institutions may have undergone name changes or mergers since the original list was compiled. This list aims to be comprehensive but may not include every postsecondary institution in Tennessee. URLs have been updated where known changes have occurred.
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