The average graduation rate of Tennessee colleges is 58.79%. It means that 58.79% of students have completed their studies within 150% of program length.
For the bachelor's degree (BS) in 4-year Tennessee colleges, the average graduation rate is 53.42%, which means 53.42% of students earned BS degree in 6 years after enrolling first year.
In Tennessee 2-year institutions (i.e. community colleges), the average graduation rate is 56.72%.
For Tennessee colleges, Vanderbilt University has the highest graduation rate of 92.77% among 4-year colleges. For Tennessee community colleges, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro has the highest graduation rate of 100.00%.
The following table compares graduation rates between Tennessee colleges. For 4-year colleges, the rates are based on the time it takes to earn a bachelor's degree, which typically requires 4 years of study. Therefore, 100% normal time means 4-year, 125% normal time means 5-years, and the 150% normal time means 6 years.
For community colleges (2-4 year schools) and trade schools, the completion time to measure graduation rates vary depending on the length of the program. For example, 150% normal time for 1-year certificate programs is 18 months and 3 years for 2-years associate degree.
| School | Graduation Rate (Completers) | Transfer-out Rate | Retention Rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In 100% Normal Time | In 125% Normal Time | In 150% Normal Time | |||
| American Baptist College4-Year College, private | 13.04% | 17.39% | 21.74% | 33% | 83% |
| Arnolds Beauty SchoolTrade School | 11.36% | - | 75.00% | 23% | 91% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-AthensCommunity College | 69.32% | - | 69.32% | - | - |
| Austin Peay State University4-Year College, public | 27.30% | 38.91% | 42.26% | - | - |
| Baptist Health Sciences University4-Year College, private | 41.54% | 52.31% | 56.92% | 24% | 63% |
| Belmont University4-Year College, private | 64.87% | 71.61% | 72.47% | - | - |
| Bethel University4-Year College, private | 2.05% | 3.23% | 28.74% | - | - |
| Bryan College-Dayton4-Year College, private | 45.41% | 50.27% | 50.81% | - | - |
| Carson-Newman University4-Year College, private | 49.89% | 56.35% | 56.57% | 30% | 68% |
| Chattanooga State Community CollegeCommunity College | 21.64% | - | 21.64% | 23% | 53% |
| Christian Brothers University4-Year College, private | 44.35% | 57.44% | 59.82% | 19% | 71% |
| Pentecostal Theological Seminary4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Austin's Beauty College IncTrade School | 45.45% | - | 54.55% | - | - |
| Cleveland State Community CollegeCommunity College | 21.58% | - | 29.22% | 10% | 57% |
| Columbia State Community CollegeCommunity College | 17.32% | - | 27.47% | 14% | 48% |
| Concorde Career College-MemphisCommunity College | 12.00% | - | 46.95% | - | - |
| Cumberland University4-Year College, private | 30.23% | 40.93% | 41.86% | 28% | 59% |
| Lipscomb University4-Year College, private | 45.57% | 56.49% | 69.30% | - | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-DicksonCommunity College | 69.31% | - | 75.25% | - | - |
| Dyersburg State Community CollegeCommunity College | 14.60% | - | 26.06% | 10% | 54% |
| East Tennessee State University4-Year College, public | 39.45% | 52.03% | 55.14% | 23% | 72% |
| Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical CareersCommunity College | 98.95% | - | 98.95% | - | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-ElizabethtonCommunity College | 82.84% | - | 86.39% | - | - |
| The Hair Academy LLCTrade School | 7.69% | - | 92.31% | 8% | 91% |
| Fisk University4-Year College, private | 51.22% | 54.47% | 56.10% | - | - |
| Welch College4-Year College, private | 47.06% | 49.02% | 50.98% | - | - |
| Freed-Hardeman University4-Year College, private | 58.02% | 68.21% | 69.75% | - | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-HarrimanCommunity College | 57.89% | - | 59.21% | - | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-HartsvilleCommunity College | 74.68% | - | 81.01% | - | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-HohenwaldCommunity College | 67.03% | - | 68.13% | - | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-JacksboroCommunity College | 73.44% | - | 73.44% | - | - |
| Jackson State Community CollegeCommunity College | 23.11% | - | 23.11% | 11% | 44% |
| John A Gupton CollegeCommunity College | 27.27% | - | 45.45% | - | - |
| Johnson University4-Year College, private | 50.38% | 60.31% | 61.83% | 17% | 77% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-MurfreesboroTrade School | 6.67% | - | 66.67% | - | - |
| King University4-Year College, private | 41.52% | 46.78% | 46.78% | 33% | 68% |
| South College4-Year College, private | 26.67% | 31.67% | 33.33% | 20% | 59% |
| Lane College4-Year College, private | 12.59% | 16.37% | 17.88% | 30% | 61% |
| Le Moyne-Owen College4-Year College, private | 8.19% | 16.96% | 19.88% | - | - |
| Lee University4-Year College, private | 49.38% | 61.27% | 62.85% | 22% | 79% |
| Lincoln Memorial University4-Year College, private | 39.77% | 48.48% | 50.38% | - | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-LivingstonCommunity College | 70.10% | - | 70.10% | - | - |
| The University of Tennessee Southern4-Year College, public | 22.71% | 28.69% | 29.48% | 37% | 66% |
| Maryville College4-Year College, private | 46.42% | 53.27% | 53.27% | 32% | 66% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzieCommunity College | 66.20% | - | 83.10% | - | - |
| Genesis Career College-CookevilleTrade School | 15.87% | - | 43.65% | - | - |
| Meharry Medical College4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MemphisCommunity College | 37.83% | - | 41.95% | - | - |
| University of Memphis4-Year College, public | 28.33% | 43.76% | 48.26% | 15% | 75% |
| Memphis Theological Seminary4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Middle Tennessee State University4-Year College, public | 35.16% | 51.10% | 54.59% | 8% | 76% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MorristownCommunity College | 71.81% | - | 71.81% | - | - |
| Motlow State Community CollegeCommunity College | 21.79% | - | 32.13% | 8% | 52% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MurfreesboroCommunity College | 82.32% | - | 100.00% | - | - |
| Lincoln College of Technology-NashvilleCommunity College | 41.24% | - | 54.69% | - | - |
| Nashville State Community CollegeCommunity College | 9.80% | - | 16.36% | 10% | 42% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology NorthwestCommunity College | 76.36% | - | 81.82% | - | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Henry/CarrollCommunity College | 76.92% | - | 76.92% | - | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-PulaskiCommunity College | 62.37% | - | 62.37% | - | - |
| Rhodes College4-Year College, private | 82.25% | 84.81% | 85.01% | 13% | 91% |
| Roane State Community CollegeCommunity College | 21.35% | - | 32.57% | 10% | 56% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-CrumpCommunity College | 52.38% | - | 63.49% | - | - |
| Southwest Tennessee Community CollegeCommunity College | 5.59% | - | 14.54% | 9% | 48% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-ShelbyvilleCommunity College | 82.47% | - | 83.51% | - | - |
| The University of the South4-Year College, private | 74.27% | 80.51% | 81.48% | 15% | 89% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Oneida-HuntsvilleCommunity College | 83.33% | - | 83.33% | - | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-CrossvilleCommunity College | 76.23% | - | 82.79% | - | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnvilleCommunity College | 68.63% | - | 74.51% | - | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-JacksonCommunity College | 64.29% | - | 75.00% | - | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-KnoxvilleCommunity College | 64.35% | - | 65.28% | - | - |
| Pellissippi State Community CollegeCommunity College | 14.66% | - | 26.64% | 16% | 50% |
| Southern Adventist University4-Year College, private | 36.13% | 55.24% | 61.52% | 4% | 85% |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University4-Year College, private | 31.25% | 48.96% | 50.00% | 38% | 75% |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga4-Year College, public | 36.02% | 49.68% | 52.35% | - | - |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville4-Year College, public | 53.78% | 70.04% | 72.58% | 20% | 89% |
| The University of Tennessee-Martin4-Year College, public | 37.83% | 50.80% | 52.63% | 21% | 71% |
| Tennessee School of Beauty of Knoxville IncTrade School | 16.15% | - | 66.46% | 1% | 89% |
| Tennessee State University4-Year College, public | 21.11% | 30.32% | 33.10% | 29% | 62% |
| Tennessee Technological University4-Year College, public | 39.53% | 56.94% | 60.15% | 19% | 78% |
| Trevecca Nazarene University4-Year College, private | 48.61% | 59.17% | 61.39% | - | - |
| Northeast State Community CollegeCommunity College | 17.27% | - | 28.13% | 6% | 56% |
| Tusculum University4-Year College, private | 26.85% | 31.17% | 33.95% | 2% | 55% |
| Union University4-Year College, private | 58.21% | 65.97% | 66.57% | 11% | 84% |
| Vanderbilt University4-Year College, private | 88.62% | 91.89% | 92.77% | - | - |
| Volunteer State Community CollegeCommunity College | 13.40% | - | 22.68% | 9% | 49% |
| Walters State Community CollegeCommunity College | 19.61% | - | 32.11% | 10% | 53% |
| William R Moore College of TechnologyCommunity College | 58.06% | - | 74.19% | - | - |
| Paul Mitchell the School-KnoxvilleTrade School | 6.67% | - | 26.67% | - | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology NashvilleCommunity College | 74.42% | - | 74.42% | - | - |
| Nossi College of Art and Design4-Year College, private | 41.18% | - | 41.18% | 39% | 84% |
| Mr Wayne's School of Unisex Hair DesignTrade School | 62.50% | - | 87.50% | - | - |
| Queen City CollegeTrade School | 3.70% | - | 55.56% | - | - |
| Genesis Career College-LebanonTrade School | 52.73% | - | 58.18% | - | - |
| Brillare Beauty InstituteTrade School | 13.85% | - | 53.85% | - | - |
| Remington College-Memphis CampusCommunity College | 71.43% | - | - | - | - |
| North Central InstituteCommunity College | 56.00% | - | 72.00% | - | - |
| Richmont Graduate University4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Williamson Christian College4-Year College, private | 33.33% | - | 33.33% | 66% | 100% |
| Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Strayer University-Tennessee4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Lawrenceburg Technical CollegeTrade School | 100.00% | - | 100.00% | - | - |
| Remington College-Nashville CampusCommunity College | 26.92% | - | 60.38% | - | - |
| SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Visible Music College4-Year College, private | 24.00% | - | 24.00% | 12% | 83% |
| Elite College of CosmetologyTrade School | 7.14% | - | 82.14% | - | - |
| TC BeautyTrade School | 12.50% | - | 59.38% | - | - |
| Fortis Institute-NashvilleCommunity College | 26.63% | - | 49.11% | - | - |
| Paul Mitchell the School-MemphisTrade School | - | - | 26.67% | - | - |
| Love Beauty School IncTrade School | 10.26% | - | 76.92% | - | - |
| Empire Beauty School-E MemphisTrade School | 3.57% | - | 46.43% | - | - |
| Empire Beauty School-NashvilleTrade School | - | - | 69.44% | - | - |
| Empire Beauty School-JacksonTrade School | - | - | 32.14% | - | - |
| Omega Graduate School4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Meridian Institute of Surgical AssistingCommunity College | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mid-South Christian College4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| The Salon Professional Academy-NashvilleTrade School | 90.48% | - | 90.48% | - | - |
| Franklin Hair Academy School of CosmetologyTrade School | 14.29% | - | 57.14% | - | - |
| Vibe Barber CollegeTrade School | 12.50% | - | 75.00% | - | - |
| Mind Body InstituteTrade School | 40.00% | - | 60.00% | - | - |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Johnson CityTrade School | 19.12% | - | 51.47% | - | - |
| Sandra Academy of Salon ServicesTrade School | - | - | - | - | - |
| Gould's AcademyTrade School | 40.54% | - | 75.68% | - | - |
| Ross Medical Education Center-KnoxvilleTrade School | 15.15% | - | 62.12% | - | - |
| Milligan University4-Year College, private | 57.73% | 62.89% | 63.40% | 26% | 72% |
| The University of Tennessee Health Science Center4-Year College, public | - | - | - | - | - |
| Image Maker Beauty InstituteTrade School | 55.56% | - | 88.89% | - | - |
| Nashville Film InstituteCommunity College | - | - | - | - | - |
| Allied Health Careers InstituteTrade School | 66.67% | - | 68.63% | - | - |
| Master's Barber & Styling CollegeTrade School | - | - | 50.00% | - | - |
| EduMed PartnersTrade School | 26.67% | - | 80.00% | - | - |
| Massage Institute of MemphisTrade School | - | - | 75.00% | - | - |
| Gould's AcademyTrade School | 5.41% | - | 94.59% | - | - |
| Jersey College - ClevelandCommunity College | - | - | - | - | - |
| Health-Tech Institute of MemphisTrade School | 100.00% | - | 100.00% | - | - |
| Fortis Institute-CookevilleCommunity College | 26.47% | - | 46.08% | - | - |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro-NashvilleTrade School | 8.33% | - | 83.33% | - | - |
| Jersey College - KnoxvilleCommunity College | - | - | - | - | - |
| Harding School of Theology4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Casa Loma College - Nashville4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-JacksboroTrade School | - | - | - | - | - |
| South College-Nashville4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary- YMCA Outdoor Center4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Strayer University-Nashville Campus4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Strayer University-Shelby Oaks Campus4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Strayer University-Knoxville Campus4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Academy of Allied Health CareersTrade School | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sweetwater Institute of CosmetologyTrade School | 76.92% | - | 76.92% | - | - |
| Studio 75 Hair AcademyTrade School | 76.92% | - | 92.31% | - | - |
| Relay Graduate School of Education - Memphis4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Relay Graduate School of Education - Nashville4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |