Tennessee Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide
Tennessee requires all teachers to complete a teacher preparation program from an accredited school in order to work in the state’s educational system. This guide to teaching schools in Tennessee provides detailed information to help you research the various programs available in the state. For aspiring educators pursuing a teaching degree in Tennessee, we provide lists of top-rated teaching programs, a table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs, and student reviews. Whether you are fresh out of college or looking to change careers, this guide is the perfect place to start researching your next career move.
Quick Facts
- There are 49 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Tennessee.1
- 17 colleges and universities offer an associate’s degree in education.*1
- 35 colleges and universities offer a bachelor’s degree in education.*1
- 30 colleges and universities offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.*1
- 6 schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019.2
- 1 school ranked in Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2020.3
- 8 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2019.4
- 9 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online Graduate Education Programs 2019.5
- 23 not-for-profit teacher programs are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP.
*For not-for-profit colleges and universities with teacher degree programs.
Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs in Tennessee
Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019*
- Vanderbilt University (#7)
- Rhodes College (#70)
- Sewanee: The University of the South (#78)
- Union University (#217)
- University of Tennessee (#246)
- Belmont University (#271)
*Institution-wide ranking.
Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2020
- Vanderbilt University
US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2019
- Vanderbilt University (#6)
- University of Tennessee-Knoxville (#66 tie)
- East Tennessee State University (#127 tie)
- University of Memphis (#157 tie)
- Tennessee Tech (#177 tie)
- University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (#186 tie)
- Lipscomb University (#195-258)
- Union University (#195-258)
US News & World Report’s Best Online Graduate Education Programs 2019
- University of Memphis (#139 tie)
- Carson-Newman University (#148 tie)
- Lipscomb University (#174 tie)
- University of Tennessee-Martin (#186 tie)
- Austin Peay State University (#189 tie)
- Union University (#210)
- Bethel University (#228-299)
- East Tennessee State University (#228-299)
- Tennessee Tech (#228-299)


Comparison of Teacher Preparation Programs
We have designed the following table to help you compare the ratings of teacher preparation programs in Tennessee according to various factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the Tennessee State Board of Education for the preparation of teachers. Completing a state-approved teacher preparation program is an important step towards earning licensure. While accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is not a requirement for licensure, many states accept degrees from CAEP-accredited institutions for those wishing to become certified. CAEP accreditation is highly regarded and shows that a program has met rigorous evidence-based standards. Read more about the CAEP, NCATE, and TEAC accrediting bodies.
The Tennessee State Board of Education (TNSBE) also provides its own ratings of approved educator preparation institutions based on metrics including the profile of students accepted to the educator preparation program, the number of graduates in high-demand endorsement areas, the number of graduates overall, and the placement and retention rates of program graduates. A Category 1 rating indicates the lowest performance, while a Category 4 rating indicates the highest performance. Finally, we included ratings from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), a research and policy group that scores teacher preparation programs at the national level using key standards chosen to measure students’ preparation for success in teaching.
State-Approved School | CAEP Accred.?6 | TN Educator Prep Institution Score (2016)7 | NCTQ UG Elem. Prog. % (2016)**8 | NCTQ UG Second. Prog. % (2017)**8 | Teacher Prep Prog. Enrollment9 | Teacher Prep Prog. Completers9 | Licensing Exams Pass Rate9 | Net Price***1 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aquinas College | No | — | — | — | 20 | 13 | 100% | — |
Austin Peay State University | Yes | 3 | 60% | 67% | 380 | 118 | 100% | $13,045 |
Belmont University | Yes | 2 | — | — | 253 | 42 | 88% | $35,382 |
Bethel University | Yes | 1 | 17% | 40% | 2 | 34 | 83% | $14,382 |
Bryan College | No | — | — | — | 32 | 17 | 93% | $15,409 |
Carson-Newman University | Yes | 3 | — | 89% | 82 | 76 | 100% | $18,598 |
Christian Brothers University | Yes | 3 | — | — | 19 | 5 | — | $17,023 |
Cumberland University | Yes | 4 | 52% | — | 36 | 22 | 100% | $23,175 |
East Tennessee State University | Yes | 2 | 66% | 79% | 251 | 172 | 100% | $13,926 |
Fisk University | No | — | — | — | 24 | 1 | — | $29,238 |
Freed-Hardeman University | Yes | 3 | — | — | 71 | 39 | 89% | $16,684 |
Johnson University | No | — | — | — | 71 | 28 | 100% | $15,639 |
King University | No | — | — | 37% | 38 | 24 | 95% | $18,197 |
Lee University | Yes | 2 | 94% | — | 214 | 138 | 100% | $16,928 |
Lemoyne-Owen College | Yes | — | — | — | 6 | 6 | — | $7,950 |
Lincoln Memorial University | Yes | 1 | 66% | 74% | 152 | 43 | 100% | $19,008 |
Lipscomb University | Yes | 4 | — | 99% | 241 | 65 | 100% | $25,050 |
Martin Methodist College | No | — | 29% | 9% | 23 | 15 | 100% | $19,394 |
Maryville College | No | 2 | 66% | 92% | 47 | 31 | 100% | $18,597 |
Memphis College of Art | No | — | — | — | — | — | — | $32,480 |
Middle Tennessee State University | Yes | 2 | — | — | 494 | 261 | 96% | $11,916 |
Millgan College | Yes | 1 | — | 92% | 35 | 35 | 100% | $20,546 |
Rhodes College | No | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | $29,144 |
Southern Adventist University | Yes | — | 47% | 49% | 96 | 30 | 100% | $21,511 |
Tennessee State University | Yes | 3 | 15% | 34% | 28 | 22 | 87% | $10,325 |
Tennessee Technological University | Yes | 2 | 63% | 4% | 472 | 250 | 98% | $14,702 |
Tennessee Wesleyan University | No | 2 | — | 37% | 37 | 23 | 100% | $12,557 |
Trevecca Nazerene University | Yes | 2 | — | 67% | 195 | 21 | 100% | $19,480 |
Tusculum College | No | 2 | 66% | 37% | 62 | 76 | 96% | $16,881 |
Union University | Yes | 4 | — | — | 55 | 79 | 99% | $25,162 |
University of Memphis | Yes | 3 | 88% | — | 400 | 73 | 85% | $13,663 |
University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | Yes | 2 | — | — | 426 | 142 | 96% | $14,706 |
University of Tennessee-Knoxville | Yes | 3 | — | — | 387 | 162 | 100% | $20,995 |
University of Tennessee-Martin | Yes | 2 | — | — | 157 | 119 | 99% | $11,034 |
Vanderbilt University | No | 3 | — | — | 232 | 93 | 100% | $23,295 |
Welch College | No | — | — | — | 17 | 8 | — | $20,776 |
The NCTQ rated undergraduate elementary teaching programs in 2016 and undergraduate secondary teaching programs in 2017 by national percentile based on their overall scores on the NCTQ’s standards for teacher education. Schools that do not provide data on all key standards or that fall below the top 50% of schools nationally are not included by the NCTQ in their ratings. Visit the NCTQ website for more information on its standards and methodologies.
**Net price is per year for undergraduate tuition as calculated by the National Center for Education Statistics based on the cost of attendance (tuition, books, room and board, and related expenses) for students who qualify for in-state tuition and fees, less the average financial aid award (including grants and scholarships).
Profiles of Well-Known Schools
University of Tennessee: Located in Knoxville, the University of Tennessee College of Education, Health ,and Human Services readies students who desire an education that focuses on giving back to individuals and community. Quite appropriate given the moniker of the University is “Volunteer.” The College contains several departments including the Department of Educational Counseling and Psychology, Educational Leadership and Policy and Theory and Practice in Education. Students are able to choose from nearly 100 majors in educationally related degree paths leading to diverse teaching careers such as k-6 education, middle education, secondary education, educational leadership, counseling, and information technology. The University Of Tennessee College Of Education, Health and Human Services is one of the largest on campus serving thousands of undergraduate and graduate students.
East Tennessee State University: Johnson City, Tennessee is home to Claudius Clemmer College of Education at East Tennessee State University. The College is known for graduating methodical and passionate educators due to their caring and competent faculty, outstanding student services, and innovative educational curriculum. Departments that make up the College of Education include Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, Human Development, and Learning, and Kinesiology, Leisure and Sports Sciences. The sign of a sound College of Education is its accreditation. The ETSU COE is accredited by several agencies and organizations including National Council of Teacher Education, Tennessee Department of Education, and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.
Tusculum College: Located in Greeneville, Tusculum College offers four distinct Bachelor of Arts programs leading to teacher licensure: Pre-Secondary Education-Interdisciplinary Studies, Secondary Education, K-12 Education, and Special Education. Within each licensure path, students may select from content and specialist fields aligned with their career goals. Tusculum’s focused academic calendar aims to provide students with early and frequent practicum placements in area schools that help guide their academic and career choices. All education students complete an enhanced student teaching experience, which is one full semester incorporating full days of teaching and observation under the guidance of faculty and school district personnel. Tusculum College’s student-faculty ratio of 17 to 1 provides students with focused learning opportunities and strong faculty interaction, which is furthered by the school’s focused, block-style class scheduling. Students’ academic progress is closely monitored within the Professional Licensure Sequence with faculty reviews each semester.
Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Tennessee
Aquinas College-Nashville
4210 Harding Pike
Nashville, TN 37205
(615) 297-7545
www.aquinascollege.edu
Austin Peay State University
601 College St
Clarksville, TN 37044
(931) 221-7011
www.apsu.edu
Belmont University
1900 Belmont Blvd
Nashville, TN 37212-3757
(615) 460-6000
https://www.belmont.edu/

Bethel College
325 Cherry Ave
McKenzie, TN 38201
(731) 352-4000
www.bethel-college.edu
Bryan College-Dayton
721 Bryan Dr
Dayton, TN 37321-7000
(423) 775-2041
Carson-Newman College
1646 S Russell Ave
Jefferson City, TN 37760
(865) 471-2000
www.cn.edu
Cumberland University
One Cumberland Sq
Lebanon, TN 37087
(615) 444-2562
East Tennessee State University
807 University Pky
Johnson City, TN 37614-0000
(423) 439-1000
https://www.etsu.edu/ehome/

Fisk University
1000 17th Ave N
Nashville, TN 37208-4501
(615) 329-8500
www.fisk.edu
Lambuth University
705 Lambuth Boulevard
Jackson, TN 38301
(731) 425-2500
www.lambuth.edu
Le Moyne-Owen College
807 Walker Ave
Memphis, TN 38126-6595
(901) 435-1500
www.loc.edu
Lee University
1120 N Ocoee St
Cleveland, TN 37311
(423) 614-8000
https://www.leeuniversity.edu/


Lipscomb University
One University Park Dr
Nashville, TN 37204-3951
(615) 966-1000
www.golipscomb.com
Martin Methodist College
433 W Madison St
Pulaski, TN 38478-2799
(931) 363-9800
Maryville College
502 E Lamar Alexander Pky
Maryville, TN 37804-5907
(865) 981-8000
Middle Tennessee State University
1301 E Main St
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
(615) 898-2300
https://www.mtsu.edu/

Milligan College
Milligan Hwy
Milligan College, TN 37682
(423) 461-8700
www.milligan.edu
Southern Adventist University
4881 Taylor Cir
Collegedale, TN 37315-0370
(423) 236-2000
www.southern.edu
Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Blvd
Nashville, TN 37209-1561
(615) 963-5111
www.tnstate.edu
Tennessee Technological University
1 William L. Jones Dr
Cookeville, TN 38505-0001
(931) 372-3223
https://www.tntech.edu/



Tennessee Temple University
1815 Union Ave
Chattanooga, TN 37404
(423) 493-4100
www.tntemple.edu
Tennessee Wesleyan University
204 East College St
Athens, TN 37303
(423) 745-7504
www.tnwesleyan.edu
The University of Tennessee
Circle Park
Knoxville, TN 37996
(865) 974-1000
https://www.utk.edu/

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
615 McCallie Ave
Chattanooga, TN 37403-2598
(423) 425-4111
www.utc.edu
The University of Tennessee-Martin
University St
Martin, TN 38238-5021
(731) 881-7000
www.utm.edu
Trevecca Nazarene University
333 Murfreesboro Rd
Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 248-1200
www.trevecca.edu
Tusculum College
60 Shiloh Rd
Greeneville, TN 37743
(423) 636-7300
www.tusculum.edu
Union University
1050 Union University Dr
Jackson, TN 38305-3697
(731) 668-1818
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN 38152
(901) 678-2000
https://www.memphis.edu/

Vanderbilt University
2101 West End Av
Nashville, TN 37240
(615) 322-7311
www.vanderbilt.edu
Welch College
1045 Bison Tr
Gallatin, TN 37066
(615) 675-5255
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Kiplinger’s Best College Values: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-best-college-values-college-finder/index.php#Tile
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 385 Colleges, 2020 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2019.
4. US News & World Report Best Graduate Education Schools 2019: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings
5. US News & World Report Best Online Graduate Education Schools 2019: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/rankings
6. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): http://caepnet.org/provider-search
7. Tennessee State Board of Education 2016 Tennessee Teacher Preparation Report Card: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/stateboardofeducation/documents/teacherprep/2016/2016_Tennessee_State_Report.pdf
8. National Council on Teacher Quality Teacher Preparation Program Review: https://www.nctq.org/review/home
8. US Department of Education 2018 Title II Reports: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx