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Easy Admission Colleges in Tennessee

23 schools in Tennessee. See our methodology.

Tennessee's accessible higher education market reveals some unexpected patterns. While schools like Middle Tennessee State University maintain acceptance rates around 72.54%, many institutions welcome over 90% of applicants. Belmont University accepts 96.27% of students despite graduates earning $55,930 annually. The University of Tennessee-Martin offers the state's lowest net cost at $10,299 with an 88.44% acceptance rate. These schools benefit from Tennessee's unique economic advantages, including no state income tax and strong job markets in healthcare through HCA Healthcare, Nashville's music industry, and growing automotive manufacturing. Tennessee Promise provides additional support by covering community college costs, creating clear pathways to four-year degrees. Public universities like East Tennessee State University and Austin Peay State University maintain acceptance rates above 85% while connecting students to regional employers. Private institutions such as Lee University and Freed-Hardeman University combine high acceptance rates with graduation rates exceeding 60%. The state's commitment to accessible education shows in these numbers, with most schools keeping net costs below $21,000 while preparing graduates for Tennessee's expanding economy.
23
Schools
$17,378
Avg. Net Price
$46,706
Avg. Earnings
51.6%
Avg. Graduation Rate

Easy Admission Colleges in Tennessee

College listings
# School Acceptance Rate Enrollment Net Price Graduation Rate
1 100.0% 23 $11,881 75.0%
2 99.6% 571 $8,992 24.7%
3 96.3% 7,306 $32,096 71.7%
4 95.2% 420 $21,470 51.1%
5 94.6% 13,645 $13,253 49.4%
6 93.8% 7,365 $14,846 44.5%
7 91.2% 1,244 $20,082 68.4%
8 88.8% 1,671 $21,803 34.9%
9 88.4% 4,600 $10,299 54.8%
10 87.5% 953 $10,896 56.0%
11 85.3% 9,807 $15,794 49.9%
12 82.7% 9,878 $12,817 53.1%
13 81.1% 903 $22,874 30.5%
14 80.3% 827 $15,133 35.7%
15 79.8% 1,374 $18,661 46.4%
16 78.5% 1,487 $17,999 53.9%
17 78.1% 8,495 $14,207 54.2%
18 77.8%
19 72.6% 2,712 $20,399 60.7%
20 72.5% 16,115 $12,599 54.0%
21 71.1% 3,021 $25,610 68.7%
22 71.0% 950 $26,135 43.5%
23 70.9% 1,697 $14,459 54.8%

Frequently Asked Questions

What Tennessee universities have the highest acceptance rates?

Belmont University leads with a 96.27% acceptance rate, followed by University of Memphis at 94.60% and Austin Peay State University at 93.82%. These schools welcome nearly all qualified applicants while maintaining solid academic standards and career outcomes for graduates.

How affordable are high-acceptance Tennessee colleges?

Net costs range from $10,299 at UT-Martin to $32,096 at Belmont University. Most accessible schools keep costs under $21,000 annually. Christian Brothers University offers strong value at $10,896 with graduates earning $57,478, the highest in this group.

Is it easier to get into Tennessee public or private universities?

Both sectors show high acceptance rates above 70%. Public universities like UT-Martin (88.44%) and University of Memphis (94.60%) are particularly accessible, while private schools like Freed-Hardeman (91.19%) and Belmont (96.27%) also welcome most applicants.

What career outcomes do these accessible Tennessee schools provide?

Graduates typically earn $38,924 to $57,478 annually. Christian Brothers University graduates average $57,478, while Belmont University graduates earn $55,930. These schools connect students to Tennessee's growing healthcare, automotive, and music industry job markets.

Does Tennessee Promise affect four-year university admissions?

Tennessee Promise covers community college tuition, creating clear transfer pathways to four-year universities. Many students use this program to complete prerequisites affordably before transferring to schools like Middle Tennessee State University or UT-Chattanooga.

Where should students focus applications for guaranteed admission in Tennessee?

Schools accepting over 90% include University of Memphis (94.60%), Austin Peay State University (93.82%), Belmont University (96.27%), and Freed-Hardeman University (91.19%). These institutions provide strong backup options with solid graduation rates between 44.50% and 71.70%.

Related

Easy Admission Colleges Nationally All Colleges in Tennessee Cheapest Programs in Tennessee

See our methodology for details on rankings and data sources.