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Austin Peay State University delivers the state's most accessible path to medical careers with a $14,846 net price that rivals Tennessee's cheapest programs. The 11 schools offering Health/Medical Preparatory Programs span from $14,459 at Trevecca Nazarene to $25,610 at Lipscomb University, creating nearly $11,000 in price variation. Public institutions like Austin Peay and UT Southern provide significant savings with in-state tuition under $11,000, while private schools offer more predictable costs regardless of residency. Tennessee's healthcare sector, anchored by HCA Healthcare's Nashville headquarters and growing medical device manufacturing, creates strong demand for pre-health graduates. Graduation rates vary considerably from 35% to 69%, suggesting program rigor differs substantially across institutions.
11
Programs
$14,459 – $25,610
Net Price Range
$35,449
Avg. Program Earnings
48.9%
Avg. Graduation Rate

11 Health/Medical Preparatory Programs Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $14,459 $29,790 54.8% 70.9%
2 $14,846 $8,675 44.5% 93.8%
3 $14,879 $29,264 43.6% 60.7%
4 $15,133 $10,506 35.7% 80.3%
5 $17,999 $26,150 53.9% 78.5%
6 $18,292 $27,840 47.0% 66.2%
7 $18,661 $34,700 46.4% 79.8%
8 $20,399 $22,690 60.7% 72.6%
9 $20,986 $38,514 47.2% 69.5%
10 $21,803 $18,168 34.9% 88.8%
11 $25,610 $38,824 68.7% 71.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Austin Peay State University stand out for pre-med students?

Austin Peay combines the second-lowest net price at $14,846 with the highest graduate earnings at $41,937 among Tennessee programs. The university maintains a 93% acceptance rate while delivering strong career outcomes for medical preparation students.

How do public and private school costs compare for health programs?

Public schools average $14,990 in net costs compared to $18,870 for private institutions. However, private schools like Trevecca Nazarene actually offer the lowest net price at $14,459, showing financial aid can level the playing field.

Does graduation rate correlate with program cost in Tennessee?

The data shows mixed patterns, with Lipscomb's 69% graduation rate justifying its $25,610 price tag. However, UT Southern graduates only 36% of students despite reasonable $15,133 net costs, suggesting cost alone doesn't predict success.

Where do Tennessee pre-health graduates typically find employment?

HCA Healthcare, based in Nashville, employs thousands across Tennessee's 185 hospitals. The state's medical device manufacturing sector and growing biotech industry also recruit pre-health graduates for research and development roles.

Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.