Tennessee Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate of the 30 Tennessee colleges that have competitive admission is 69.60% for the academic year 2023-2024. Compared to last year, the acceptance rate is lower by 3.16%. The acceptance rate at 8 Tennessee colleges increased and the rate of 21 colleges decreased.

Vanderbilt University has the lowest (i.e. hard to admit) acceptance rate of 6.00%. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (46.00%) and Union University (47.01%) are following it in the list of Tightest Tennessee Colleges to get in.

This ranking is only based on acceptance rates and more admission stats such as SAT and ACT scores are helpful to measure the chances to get in more accurately.

Vanderbilt University stays at first place of the lowest acceptance rate ranking since last year. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville ranked 2nd, up 8 places from 10th last year.

The average undergraduate tuition & fees of the schools is $35,888 and graduate tuition & fees is $25,948 for the academic year 2023-2024.

We note that the actual tightness of admission lies in considering other admission requirements such as SAT score.
Table. Tightest Tennessee Colleges To Get In Comparison
School NameAcceptance RateYieldSAT ScoreUndergraduate Tuition & FeesTotal PopulationGraduation RateStudents to Faculty Ratio
1
-
Vanderbilt University Nashville, TNPrivate, 4-year 6.00%
0.67%
57.01%1,540$63,94613,71092.00%7 to 1
2
8
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TNPublic, 4-year 46.00%
22.41%
29.00%1,260$31,974
($13,484)
33,80572.00%18 to 1
3
-
Union University Jackson, TNPrivate, 4-year 47.01%
5.54%
23.02%1,190$20,3022,73166.00%8 to 1
4
-
Rhodes College Memphis, TNPrivate, 4-year 50.01%
3.90%
16.00%1,400$54,8922,00885.00%9 to 1
5
3
The University of the South Sewanee, TNPrivate, 4-year 51.00%
1.32%
18.01%1,305$53,7041,70481.00%10 to 1
6
-
Johnson University Knoxville, TNPrivate, 4-year 53.93%
9.28%
55.02%1,010$20,31893965.00%10 to 1
7
2
King University Bristol, TNPrivate, 4-year 53.97%
6.83%
26.05%-$34,8001,35746.00%11 to 1
8
5
Fisk University Nashville, TNPrivate, 4-year 58.01%
12.96%
7.00%1,330$24,2981,05556.00%12 to 1
9
9
Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate, TNPrivate, 4-year 59.00%
19.48%
15.02%1,110$26,1505,41850.00%8 to 1
10
10
Tusculum University Greeneville, TNPrivate, 4-year 60.03%
21.05%
47.03%-$28,5001,30333.00%16 to 1
Average48.50%29.32%1,268$35,888
($13,484)
6,40364.60%11 to 1