The 7 Most Popular Universities in Tennessee

Finding the right university to attend can be an intimidating process. In this day and age, there are countless universities in US offering various degree options which makes the decision even more difficult. It is important that you select a school that best suits your interests and goals.

To help make it easier for prospective students, we’ve created a list of the top 7 universities in Tennessee that offer some of the highest quality education available! Explore each school’s strengths, examine their highly ranked academics, learn about their thought-provoking research projects and discover why these schools are considered among America’s finest.

The Top 7 Universities in Tennessee

University of Tennessee

• Address: Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.6 (1547)
• Phone: +1 865-974-1000
• Website: Link
• Reviews:
  Nice stadium – love the updates they done.. LED lights sound system sound awesome. It can be crowded (100K + fans)
  Family Be aware they sell beer – but is a fun place to be cheering for UT VOLS…
  Food and drinks are pricey – they Do cash and cards.

  Take clear bags, easier to go thru the gate.

  GO VOLS

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Victor Gomez (3 months ago)

  Had a wonderful time attending our first women’s soccer match at UT. Great seats, biggest crowd of the season, and they won! Boys had fun and we’ll be back again. Concession lines were a bit long but I think it was just because of the big crowd. Very nice service.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Matt Killingsworth (a year ago)

  Today was a long day. Everyone I came into contact with was very polite and nice. The doctors made sure that I understood what was going to happen, when and why it was to happen. The lunch cafeteria was polite and offered me an employee discount as a substitute for the nonexistent military discount. I was also informed that disabled patients were not required to pay the 3 dollar parking fee. Yes it was a long day, but as describe there were many perks that made the day very pleasant. I, however reserve final judgment on the day until the test results come in. Russ.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Russell Anderson (a month ago)

  Amazing Campus! Student guides were amazing! All students we interacted with during visit were so helpful and friendly.
  They all spoke very highly of UT!

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Simcox Press (a year ago)

  I went in by Ambulance and I was treated with kindness and caring nurses and Dr who actually sit and listen to me and my issue. I was in a tremendous amount of pain but with that being said it was extremely busy with a long waiting on results. The Dr gave me something for pain before he sent me out in the waiting room. Other then the long LONG wait I’d say that my experience was very professional..

  ✭✭✭✭ By Tresa Daugherty (3 months ago)

Tennessee Tech University

• Address: 1 William L Jones Dr, Cookeville, TN 38505, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.5 (329)
• Phone: +1 931-372-3101
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

  Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

  Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

  Thursday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

  Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

  Saturday: Closed

  Sunday: Closed
• Reviews:
  My child is looking into colleges and interested in Chemical Engineering. Techs campus was very impressive from the original meet and great to the tour and then meeting the professors for my child’s specific choice of majors. The professor Sanders passion for what he taught was obvious and made Tech my child’s #1 pick so far.
  The recreation facilities to the cafeteria were all exceptional as was all the staff we encountered.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Eric (5 months ago)

  Very nice campus. It is clean and well taken care of. More importantly, the professors along with all of the staff are so informative, friendly, encouraging, and helpful.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Aimee Kohanski (6 months ago)

  Tennessee Tech is in a class of its own. The quality of education found here is unparalleled by any other institution of its kind. I truly believe I received an education just as valuable as any around, and in some cases for a third or a quarter of the price. I can now say I’ll graduate debt free in May with the skills necessary to excel in a graduate school environment. Just remember that in any situation, you only get out what you put in. Tech embodies that well.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Kevin McPeak (6 years ago)

  Currently a junior. Tennessee Tech makes you pay $200 for a parking pass and most of the spots fill before 8:30AM. You have to walk super far away and the buses are unreliable. There are no schedules posted for the bus routes so most people end up not using them. All employee parking is super close while students have to walk 10+ minutes to get to campus. Not good for ladies who have evening classes during the fall. It can be quite scary walking by yourself when the sun sets or at nightfall.
  The biology program is the only reason why I’m finishing my degree here.

  ✭ By Hazi (4 months ago)

  This place was just gorgeous My son will be going here we’ve seen a few colleges they’re in a few colleges but this college here it’s college here it’s nice quiet And the people down here I great it’s a college town for real

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Roscoe Harris (4 months ago)

Middle Tennessee State University

• Address: 1301 E Main St, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.4 (310)
• Phone: +1 615-898-2300
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

  Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

  Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

  Thursday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

  Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

  Saturday: Closed

  Sunday: Closed
• Reviews:
  I teach here, so I’m a little biased. It’s hard to sum up a university in a review since it’s a collection of so many independent entities. One thing that everyone has in common is a concern for students and their outcomes. In addition to the degree-related stuff, there are also a million events that anyone can attend, and most of those are really special. As an example, the pictures I’ve posted are from the Transgender Day of Remembrance observance. Each light represents a person, the event lets people walk through the display and read biographies for a lot of the people represented.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Will Langston (a year ago)

  We truly enjoyed this space exhibit outside the physics building. We stopped during the quarantine since it was outdoor and the campus was practically empty. One of the professors, Dr. Perevalova saw us and came to teach us the significance of the exhibit. It is super cool!!!

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Chasity Grace (2 years ago)

  This place is Amazing! Cannot wait till all 4 of my kids attend & graduate from here! Excellent school, Excellent & caring faculty & staff. They have put so much work into this campus and making it feel like a place where you belong. They really go above and beyond for all students and their families. Go Blue Raiders!

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Robin Flahaven (a year ago)

  We park our RV at the Livestock Center so we can visit family, while in town. We love George and Bob, the campus bus drivers. They always make us feel welcome. We especially love Bonnie, who does a fabulous job of managing the lot. She is very professional and kind. Our son graduated from MTSU quite a few years ago, so we have invested $$$$$ in this college. 😀🌹

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Sherri Walker (a year ago)

  I have lectured at and attended a number of lectures at Middle Tennessee State University over the past several decades. The faculty that I interacted with were dedicated scholars but, more often than not, it seemed like their scholarship was not encouraged or supported and moral was generally low. The students were quite pleasant but I can’t say as to how motivated and hard working they are as a collective. It’s quite a campus but the presence of athletics can be felt immediately upon entering the campus.

  ✭✭✭ By JM Sanderson (2 years ago)

East Tennessee State University

• Address: 1276 Gilbreath Dr, Johnson City, TN 37614, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.4 (296)
• Phone: +1 423-439-1000
• Website: Link
• Reviews:
  I graduated in May 2021. I studied Biology and minored in Geology. My experience was no different than one would expect. I felt adequately educated, had all the fun and struggles that come with that. The financial aid department was scary and the workers were soulless. The library was good, nice “quieter as you go up” floor structure. The testing center student workers were polite. Some buildings were confusing, but made sense once you figured it out. Culp center renovations ruined the snacking options. So I had to leave to get anything to eat. That sucked. I mean eventually there were food trucks, but having those darn renovations going during my entire time there was a huge bummer. The parking situation was improved with the parking garage- that and a little common sense will get you far. Don’t try to park where there’s not spaces, just go to the back of the freaking lot!!

  Chemistry made me cry, so did physics. I just wanted to learn about animals!!! The professors got me through it. I didn’t do many gen ed courses here since I went to community college, but even the adjuncts were cool. Some Bio classes were hard, but I had more fun with them.
  Raven Ragsdale is a great bio lab coordinator, very sweet. The grad students who instruct the lab courses were relatable and didn’t take themselves too seriously.
  The professors were excellent people, I miss them dearly. I wish they could keep teaching me without the associated stress and debt. Dr. Chris Gregg, and Dr. Ingrid Luffman in Geology, Dr. Hugh Miller and Dr. Rebecca Pyles in Biology, and epically Dr. Fred Alsop and Dr. Thomas Jones all made a difference in my life. They may not remember me, but I’ll remember them. Dr. Alsop made me obsessed with birds- made me look at nature differently and want to know everything about it. He warned his students that would happen. Dr. Jones learned me things about spiders I never knew I could know before!

  The campus is very pretty, I loved seeing it in all the seasons.
  The student body was decent. Nobody bothered me. Students were polite.
  I didn’t go into too much debt. All my scholarships ran out cause I took too long- cause I’m human. Overall, I’d recommend this school and experience.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Bri Watkins (11 months ago)

  I enjoyed my time at ETSU as a student. It is a beautiful campus with tons of trees. I know recently they’ve been doing tons of construction, but all of the changes have been great improvements to the school. The library is huge with four floors or so and plenty of access to computers as well. Most of the teachers are helpful and enjoy teaching, but you still get those few that clearly don’t need to be teachers. This can make classes difficult for srudents. Their gym is the best gym ice ever been to with an indoor track, more weight racks and free weights than machines, an aerobics room, a martial arts room, and a yoga room. They also have a pool and showers in the bathrooms. Want to take a cycling class? Play basketball or volleyball? Maybe a little racquetball? They have it all. Really incredible place and easy to reserve rooms for events if you’re in a club or something.

  I don’t reccomend a meal plan. They may have changed providers but when I saw there the food was not good and always made me feel sick. Plus it was way to expensive.

  The dorms have beautiful common areas but some rooms are incredibly small. It’s hard to believe they expect two people to live in such a small room.

  Overall, a great experience but like any university has its downsides too.

  ✭✭✭✭ By Kaylin Meier (a year ago)

  We went to the tailgate today and the 40 year bluegrass celebration last night. We are very luck to have ETSU in Johnson City. There is always something to do. Football game next!

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Mickii Carter (2 months ago)

  My nephew goes there Curtis Reese and since I have been going there to visit him pick him up and bring him home for the weekend I don’t mind the drive I enjoy it and I think the college is great there’s a lot of good students go there and they have a lot of great teachers and it’s a very nice University and it is very very big I love it and I also have a lot to do there so it’s a great place

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Linda Burke (2 months ago)

  Took a school tour, it was amazing. Such nice people. Big university, but definitely a small college feel.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Brookie_ Pooh (a month ago)

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

• Address: 615 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.5 (172)
• Phone: +1 423-425-4111
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Saturday: Closed

  Sunday: Closed
• Reviews:
  I just got accepted here and have had a hard time getting all my paperwork and transfer info together but the staff has been absolutely amazing and so helpful throughout it all! Very excited to finally be at a school that seems to care and value their students! Also Linda in the bursars office is amazing and so kind!

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Lindsey Nichole (11 months ago)

  I graduated from UTC back in 2015. The campus, city, and outdoors is why you come to UTC. They are all beautiful. However, once you look on the inside is when you find the bad. I never felt like i had any good professors who truly cared about their students except for two. The administrative side is a nightmare; constantly being transferred to another person or department, often times talking to someone who is annoyed because you called. The college DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOU, only your money and they will do everything they can to exploit it. The best part on the inside of UTC is the maintenance and food court staff. They know students by name and make sure you are doing okay, unlike professors and advisors. Its a great place to be on the outside until you start going to class or trying to solve an administrative problem.

  ✭✭✭ By Stephen Walker (a year ago)

  Great college with Restaurants all around the campus and Law enforcement cameras and good Security guards…. And very Peaceful and fun and its Downtown where most our events in Chattanooga, Tennessee takes place

  ✭✭✭✭ By Faheem FAHEEM (a year ago)

  Their staff illegally altered my grades and their advisers added classes onto my schedule that didn’t pertain to my degree running up $40K in student loans. I was originally supposed to graduate Fall 2016. I’m still having to continue my degree. Their staff made 0 effort to remedy or assist in the situation. I would not recommend attending this University at all.

  ✭ By Zachary Taylor (4 years ago)

  Beautiful architecture, including the misspelling on the logo. We took the ghost hunt and had an amazing experience. Even captured an odd photo. I’ll let you be the judge. . .

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Leslie Mason (a year ago)

Tennessee State University

• Address: 3500 John A Merritt Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4 (159)

Sewanee: The University Of The South

• Address: 735 University Ave, Sewanee, TN 37383, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.7 (133)

Thank you for reading! We hope this list helps you find the best universities in Tennessee. If you have any additional information, please leave a comment below!