Best Online and Campus Psychology Schools in Tennessee
The following guide to psychology schools in Tennessee contains important information on the undergraduate and graduate psychology programs in the state and is designed to make choosing the best program for your goals easier.
Table of Contents
- Tennessee Psychology School Facts
- Top-Ranked Psychology Programs
- Top 20 Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs
- Graduate Psychology Program Comparison
- Related Articles
Tennessee Psychology School Facts
- There are 34 not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs in Tennessee.1
- 5 schools offer an associate degree in psychology.1
- 33 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in psychology.1
- 11 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in psychology.1
- 2 schools ranked in College Factual’s Best General Psychology Schools 2024.2
- 1 school ranked in Psychology Degree 411’s Top Schools With Online Psychology Programs.3
- 1 school ranked in The Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors 2024.4
- 1 school ranked in Times Higher Education’s Best Universities for Psychology 2023.5
- 10 schools ranked in Most Affordable Schools With a Bachelor’s in Psychology.1
Nationally Ranked Top Psychology Programs in Tennessee
Our curated list of third-party and proprietary rankings can be useful in measuring the overall value and reputation of a program. Lists include College Factual, Psychology Degree 411, The Princeton Review, and Times Higher Education. Note if one of these lists is not present below, no schools in the state were named on it. Generally, schools and programs ranked on multiple lists tend to be stronger in academic quality.
Schools Ranked on Multiple Lists
- East Tennessee State University
- Middle Tennessee State University
- Tennessee Technological University
- Trevecca Nazarene University
- Tennessee Wesleyan University
- University of Tennessee-Knoxville
- University of Tennessee-Martin
- University of Memphis
- Vanderbilt University
College Factual’s Best Psychology Schools 2024
- Vanderbilt University (#13)
- Sewanee-The University of the South (#139)2
Psychology Degree 411’s Top Schools With Online Psychology Programs
- University of Memphis (#19)3
The Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors 2024
- University of Tennessee-Knoxville4
Times Higher Education’s Best Universities for Psychology 2023
- Vanderbilt University (#44)5
Most Affordable Schools With a Bachelor’s in Psychology
The following Tennessee schools with bachelor’s degrees in psychology have the lowest average net prices. Please note that we grouped regional campuses together and included a range for the net price of these schools. We have included each school’s graduation rate, a key quality metric.
- Tennessee State University ($11,986 / Grad rate: 32%)
- The University of Tennessee Regional Campuses ($12,619-$14,417 / Grad rate: 52%-53%)
- Middle Tennessee State University ($13,062 / Grad rate: 55%)
- Tennessee Wesleyan University ($13,591 / Grad rate: 50%)
- Bethel University ($13,858 / Grad rate: 45%)
- University of Memphis ($13,873 / Grad rate: 48%)
- East Tennessee State University ($14,350 / Grad rate: 55%)
- Tennessee Technological University ($15,188 / Grad rate: 60%)
- Trevecca Nazarene University ($16,080 / Grad rate: 61%)
- Austin Peay State University ($16,140 / Grad rate: 43%)1
Top 20 Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs in Tennessee
This table compares the top 20 bachelor’s in psychology programs from not-for-profit schools in Tennessee based on a graduation rate above 50% and an annual net price of $25,000 or below. A high graduation rate is a top indicator of student success, and affordability is a key consideration for prospective undergrad students. Programs in bold text offer hybrid or online options.
| School | Grad Rate*1 | Accept Rate1 | Median Debt*6 | Median Earnings*6 | Full Price In State1 | Full Price Out of State1 | Net Price*1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Tennessee-Martin | 53% | 68% | $21,024 | $43,043 | $25,394 | $43,814 | $12,619 |
| Middle Tennessee State University | 55% | 73% | $20,000 | $46,693 | $18,808 | $37,840 | $13,062 |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | 50% | 61% | $20,000 | $42,661 | $35,950 | $35,950 | $13,591 |
| East Tennessee State University | 55% | 85% | $19,442 | $42,563 | $19,287 | $23,097 | $14,350 |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | 52% | 83% | $19,500 | $46,266 | $19,348 | $35,466 | $14,417 |
| Tennessee Technological University | 60% | 78% | $15,650 | $45,397 | $20,304 | $30,336 | $15,188 |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | 61% | 71% | $18,744 | $51,250 | $38,100 | $38,100 | $16,080 |
| Bryan College-Dayton | 51% | N.Av. | $23,000 | $48,386 | $26,150 | $26,150 | $16,752 |
| Freed-Hardeman University | 70% | 91% | $21,500 | $42,173 | $32,250 | $32,250 | $18,556 |
| Christian Brothers University | 60% | 87% | $27,000 | $53,563 | $45,740 | $45,740 | $18,612 |
| Welch College | 59% | N.Av. | $19,500 | $35,816 | $28,340 | $28,340 | $18,966 |
| Lincoln Memorial University | 51% | 78% | $20,000 | $44,726 | $36,250 | $36,250 | $19,162 |
| Lee University | 63% | 73% | $25,750 | $42,772 | $30,570 | $30,570 | $19,726 |
| Milligan University | 63% | 67% | $25,219 | $44,385 | $45,300 | $45,300 | $19,865 |
| Carson-Newman University | 56% | 80% | $21,500 | $43,846 | $43,097 | $43,097 | $20,111 |
| Fisk University | 56% | 71% | $27,000 | $42,011 | $35,078 | $35,078 | $20,578 |
| Johnson University | 66% | 63% | $21,500 | $38,008 | $27,938 | $27,938 | $21,012 |
| Maryville College | 53% | 70% | $25,375 | $45,765 | $50,374 | $50,374 | $21,583 |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 73% | 68% | $20,500 | $56,615 | $25,394 | $43,814 | $21,880 |
| Southern Adventist University | 52% | 66% | $24,500 | $49,250 | $32,200 | $32,200 | $24,332 |
*See Table Notes at bottom of page.
Comparison of All Graduate Psychology Programs in Tennessee
This table compares all of Tennessee’s graduate-level psychology programs from not-for-profit schools on multiple factors.
We’ve included accreditation status by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC), and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). We also highlight the levels offered, 2020-2022 pass rates for the Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP), and tuition information. Note EPPP scores are reported by degree type (clinical, counseling, or school psychology) and level (PhD or PsyD), so some schools may be listed more than once to include all pass rates. Schools in bold text offer hybrid or online options. Tuition per credit hour is more relevant for master’s and PsyD programs due to the fact that PhD students typically receive more program-awarded funding.
| School | Accreditation7-10 | Levels Offered | EPPP Pass Rate 2020-2211 | EPPP # Taking 2020-2211 | Grad Tuition Per Credit Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Peay State University | — | MS, PsyD | — | — | $553 |
| East Tennessee State University | APA | PhD | 100% | 10 | $554 |
| Fisk University | — | MA | — | — | $1,255 |
| Lincoln Memorial University | — | MS | — | — | $565 |
| Lipscomb University | — | MS | — | — | $962 |
| Middle Tennessee State University | NASP | MA, EdS | — | — | $618 |
| Tennessee State University | APA | MS, PhD | 41% | 27 | $533 |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | NASP | MS | — | — | $616 |
| University of Memphis (Clinical PhD) | APA, NASP | MA, EdS, PhD | 88% | 17 | $623 |
| University of Memphis (Counseling PhD) | APA, NASP | MA, EdS, PhD | 60% | 20 | $623 |
| University of Memphis (School PhD) | APA, NASP | MA, EdS, PhD | 78% | 9 | $623 |
| University of Tennessee-Knoxville (Clinical PhD) | APA, NASP | MA, EdS, PhD | 94% | 16 | $1,135 |
| University of Tennessee-Knoxville (Counseling PhD) | APA, NASP | MA, EdS, PhD | 87% | 15 | $1,135 |
| University of Tennessee-Knoxville (School PhD) | APA, NASP | MA, EdS, PhD | 78% | 9 | $1,135 |
| Vanderbilt University | APA | MS | 92% | 13 | $2,281 |
Related Articles
- Degree Levels Overview: Associate to PhD
- Tennessee Licensure Guide
- Top Online Bachelor’s Programs Ranking
- Psychology Careers by Degree Level
*Table Notes:
-N.Av. indicates data is not available.
-Metrics are institution-wide unless otherwise noted.
-Graduation rate is completion percentage within six years of start.
-Median (average) debt is cumulative federal loan debt for undergraduate completers in 2020-2021.
-Median earnings are from the 2020-2021 cohort 10 years post school entry.
-Net price is the average yearly price paid by full-time, first-year undergraduate students receiving financial aid. See NCES for more in-depth information.
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. College Factual, Best Colleges Offering Degrees in Psychology (Nationwide): https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/psychology/rankings/top-ranked/#
3. Psychology Degree 411 Top Schools With Online Psychology Programs: https://www.psychologydegree411.com/degrees/online/
4. The Princeton Review. The Best 388 Colleges, 2023 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2022.
5. Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023 – Psychology: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2023/subject-ranking/psychology
6. Department of Education College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data
7. American Psychological Association Accredited Programs: https://accreditation.apa.org/accredited-programs
8. Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs, Directory: https://www.cacrep.org/directory/
9. Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council Accredited Programs: https://mpcacaccreditation.org/accredited-programs/
10. National Association for School Psychologists, Approved Programs: https://apps.nasponline.org/standards-and-certification/graduate-program-approval-and-accreditation/approved-accredited.aspx
11. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, 2023 Psychology Licensing Exam Scores by Doctoral Program: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.asppb.net/resource/resmgr/eppp_/2023_dr_rpt_012024.pdf