Tennessee Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide
Tennessee requires all teachers to complete a teacher preparation program from an accredited school. 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 a table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs and curated lists of affordable and top-ranked programs.
Table of Contents
- TN Teacher Preparation Program Comparison
- 16 Affordable TN Bachelor’s in Education Programs
- Top-Ranked Tennessee Education Programs
- Best Bachelor’s in Education Programs
- Schools With Associate Degrees in Education
Comparison of Tennessee Schools With Teacher Preparation Programs
The table below compares 36 Tennessee teacher preparation programs across key factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE). Completing a state-approved program is a key step toward licensure. While Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accreditation is not required for licensure, we include it because CAEP is a nationally respected accreditor whose standards are recognized or accepted in many states.
Data includes enrollment, completion, and pass rates for traditional and alternative programs, based on the 2024 Title II Report (2022-2023 school year). Traditional programs are usually part of a bachelor’s degree, while alternative certification programs target career changers and may lead to a certificate or master’s degree. Many schools offer both—review our Tennessee traditional certification guide and our Tennessee alternative certification guide for more. Net price reflects the average annual cost for in-state undergraduates—tuition, books, room and board—minus grants and scholarships.
| State-Approved School | CAEP Accred.?1 | Trad. Teacher Program Enrollment2 | Trad. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers2 | Trad. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2 | Alt. Teacher Program Enrollment2 | Alt. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers2 | Alt. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2 | Net Price3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquinas College | No | 13 | 3 | N.Av. | 2 | 2 | N.Av. | N.Av. |
| Austin Peay State University | Yes | 152 | 152 | 87% | 125 | 68 | 67% | $13,045 |
| Belmont University | Yes | 209 | 25 | 88% | 58 | 13 | 82% | $35,382 |
| Bethel University | No | 33 | 7 | N.Av. | 24 | 12 | 100% | $14,382 |
| Bryan College | No | 98 | 32 | 54% | — | — | — | $15,409 |
| Carson-Newman University | Yes | 78 | 41 | 100% | 148 | 31 | 87% | $18,598 |
| Christian Brothers University | Yes | 21 | 12 | 92% | 16 | 7 | N.Av. | $17,023 |
| Cumberland University | No | 48 | 22 | 95% | 74 | 21 | 81% | $23,175 |
| East Tennessee State University | Yes | 331 | 167 | 93% | 17 | 7 | N.Av. | $13,926 |
| Fisk University | No | 6 | 3 | N.Av. | 6 | 3 | N.Av. | $29,238 |
| Freed-Hardeman University | Yes | 189 | 31 | 94% | 45 | 11 | N.Av. | $16,684 |
| Johnson University | No | 90 | 12 | 100% | — | — | — | $15,639 |
| King University | No | 26 | 8 | 100% | 12 | 7 | N.Av. | $18,197 |
| Lane College | No | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | $16,928 |
| Lee University | Yes | 142 | 20 | 100% | 51 | 6 | N.Av. | $7,950 |
| Lemoyne-Owen College | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | — | $19,008 |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Yes | 89 | 25 | 100% | 28 | 15 | 86% | $25,050 |
| Lipscomb University | Yes | 295 | 136 | 100% | 309 | 137 | 96% | $19,394 |
| Maryville College | No | 88 | 19 | 79% | — | — | — | $18,597 |
| Middle Tennessee State University | Yes | 523 | 192 | 87% | 187 | 86 | 94% | $32,480 |
| Milligan University | Yes | 21 | 14 | 94% | 14 | 7 | N.Av. | $11,916 |
| Rhodes College | No | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | $20,546 |
| Southern Adventist University | Yes | 51 | 8 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $29,144 |
| Tennessee State University | Yes | 23 | 12 | 44% | 25 | 10 | N.Av. | $21,511 |
| Tennessee Technological University | Yes | 706 | 227 | 96% | 130 | 68 | 89% | $10,325 |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | No | 62 | 22 | 93% | — | — | — | $14,702 |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | Yes | 78 | 16 | N.Av. | 37 | 19 | N.Av. | $12,557 |
| Tusculum University | No | 140 | 30 | 77% | 54 | 32 | 72% | $19,480 |
| Union University | Yes | 61 | 18 | 94% | 42 | 20 | 79% | $16,881 |
| University of Memphis | Yes | 128 | 68 | 67% | 315 | 65 | 76% | $25,162 |
| University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | Yes | 691 | 138 | 94% | 62 | 20 | N.Av. | $13,663 |
| University of Tennessee-Knoxville | Yes | 460 | 158 | 94% | 128 | 69 | 90% | $14,706 |
| University of Tennessee-Martin | Yes | 315 | 97 | 96% | 210 | 66 | 82% | $20,995 |
| University of Tennessee Southern | No | 57 | 3 | N.Av. | 2 | — | — | $11,034 |
| Vanderbilt University | Yes | 243 | 112 | 98% | 4 | 3 | N.Av. | $23,295 |
| Welch College | No | 22 | 10 | 100% | 5 | 3 | N.Av. | $20,776 |
- — indicates none or not applicable.
- N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.
Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Education Programs in Tennessee
Our list of the most affordable bachelor’s in education programs is based on the net price per year for undergraduate tuition. Net price is the average cost of attendance after grants and scholarships are applied. These 16 most affordable schools have a net price under $17,000.
- Lee University ($7,950)
- Tennessee Technological University ($10,325)
- University of Tennessee Southern ($11,034)
- Milligan University ($11,916)
- Trevecca Nazarene University ($12,557)
- Austin Peay State University ($13,045)
- University of Tennessee-Chattanooga ($13,663)
- East Tennessee State University ($13,926)
- Bethel University ($14,382)
- Tennessee Wesleyan University ($14,702)
- University of Tennessee-Knoxville ($14,706)
- Bryan College ($15,409)
- Johnson University ($15,639)
- Freed-Hardeman University ($16,684)
- Union University ($16,881)
- Lane College ($16,928)3
Top-Ranked Schools With Education Programs in Tennessee
Best Bachelor’s in Education Programs in Tennessee
Our list of the top 11 bachelor’s in education programs is based on the traditional pathway pass rate data from the 2024 Title II Reports.
- Carson-Newman University (100%)
- Johnson University (100%)
- King University (100%)
- Lee University (100%)
- Lincoln Memorial University (100%)
- Lipscomb University (100%)
- Welch College (100%)
- Vanderbilt University (98%)
- Tennessee Technological University (96%)
- University of Tennessee-Martin (96%)
- Cumberland University (95%)2
Schools With Associate Degrees in Education
While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational level required to qualify for state certification, an associate degree can be the first step toward a career in education. It can qualify graduates for careers in non-licensed roles in early childhood education, after-school care, and related areas. The credits earned from an accredited associate degree program can also typically be transferred toward a bachelor’s degree. The 16 Tennessee schools below offer associate degrees in education.3 Schools with an asterisk (*) also offer four-year teaching programs and/or alternative route to certification programs.
- Chattanooga State Community College
- Columbia State Community College
- Cumberland University*
- Dyersburg State Community College
- Jackson State Community College
- Johnson University*
- Motlow State Community College
- Nashville State Community College
- Northeast State Community College
- Pellissippi State Community College
- Roane State Community College
- Southern Adventist University*
- Southwest Tennessee Community College
- Volunteer State Community College
- Walters State Community College
- Welch College*
References:
1. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): https://caepnet.org/provider-search
2. US Department of Education 2024 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx
3. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/