Tennessee doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 23 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 23 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Knoxville came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In Tennessee For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Tennessee's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, South College, Johnson University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 39,906 (20 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 195,185 |
| Median rent | $1,191 |
| Graduation rate | 64% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $32,959 |
Knoxville is home to The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, South College, Johnson University. There are 20 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,191 a month, and the average cost to attend is $32,959 a year. It ranks 19th for crime among the 23 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Southern Adventist University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,773 (24 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 11,330 |
| Median rent | $1,581 |
| Graduation rate | 61% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $38,618 |
Collegedale is home to Southern Adventist University. There are 24 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,581 a month, and the average cost to attend is $38,618 a year. It ranks 3rd for crime among the 23 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Tennessee Technological University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 8,698 (24 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 36,088 |
| Median rent | $917 |
| Graduation rate | 66% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $25,663 |
Cookeville is home to Tennessee Technological University. There are 24 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $917 a month, and the average cost to attend is $25,663 a year. It ranks 10th for crime among the 23 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | East Tennessee State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 10,004 (14 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 72,222 |
| Median rent | $1,023 |
| Graduation rate | 63% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $27,042 |
Johnson City is home to East Tennessee State University. There are 14 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,023 a month, and the average cost to attend is $27,042 a year. It ranks 16th for crime among the 23 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga, Richmont Graduate University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 14,536 (8 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 185,783 |
| Median rent | $1,256 |
| Graduation rate | 55% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $25,489 |
Chattanooga is home to The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga, Richmont Graduate University. There are 8 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,256 a month, and the average cost to attend is $25,489 a year. It ranks 22nd for crime among the 23 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | The University of Tennessee-Martin |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 4,866 (45 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 10,915 |
| Median rent | $859 |
| Graduation rate | 54% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $23,079 |
Martin is home to The University of Tennessee-Martin. There are 45 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $859 a month, and the average cost to attend is $23,079 a year. It ranks 8th for crime among the 23 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Freed-Hardeman University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,212 (19 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 6,411 |
| Median rent | $781 |
| Graduation rate | 70% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $38,315 |
Henderson is home to Freed-Hardeman University. There are 19 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $781 a month, and the average cost to attend is $38,315 a year. It ranks 2nd for crime among the 23 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Middle Tennessee State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 16,301 (10 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 161,445 |
| Median rent | $1,481 |
| Graduation rate | 59% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $24,289 |
Murfreesboro is home to Middle Tennessee State University. There are 10 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,481 a month, and the average cost to attend is $24,289 a year. It ranks 15th for crime among the 23 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Bethel University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,547 (27 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 5,631 |
| Median rent | $663 |
| Graduation rate | 24% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $31,203 |
McKenzie is home to Bethel University. There are 27 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $663 a month, and the average cost to attend is $31,203 a year. It ranks 5th for crime among the 23 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Bryan College-Dayton, Omega Graduate School |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 814 (11 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 7,625 |
| Median rent | $848 |
| Graduation rate | 46% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $31,270 |
Dayton is home to Bryan College-Dayton, Omega Graduate School. There are 11 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $848 a month, and the average cost to attend is $31,270 a year. It ranks 9th for crime among the 23 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Tennessee
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 23 towns in Tennessee that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Tennessee.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Tennessee.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Tennessee
If you're looking for the best college towns in Tennessee, Knoxville is where to start.
The best college towns in Tennessee are Knoxville, Collegedale, Cookeville, Johnson City, Chattanooga, Martin, Henderson, Murfreesboro, McKenzie, and Dayton.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Tennessee for 2026?
Knoxville is the best college town in Tennessee for 2026, followed by Collegedale and Cookeville.
How did you rank the best college towns in Tennessee?
We looked at every town in Tennessee with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Tennessee?
Bristol ranks last of the 23 college towns we ranked in Tennessee for 2026.
Best College Towns In Tennessee For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knoxville, TN | 195,185 | 39,906 | $1,191 |
| 2 | Collegedale, TN | 11,330 | 2,773 | $1,581 |
| 3 | Cookeville, TN | 36,088 | 8,698 | $917 |
| 4 | Johnson City, TN | 72,222 | 10,004 | $1,023 |
| 5 | Chattanooga, TN | 185,783 | 14,536 | $1,256 |
| 6 | Martin, TN | 10,915 | 4,866 | $859 |
| 7 | Henderson, TN | 6,411 | 1,212 | $781 |
| 8 | Murfreesboro, TN | 161,445 | 16,301 | $1,481 |
| 9 | McKenzie, TN | 5,631 | 1,547 | $663 |
| 10 | Dayton, TN | 7,625 | 814 | $848 |
| 11 | Maryville, TN | 32,392 | 1,005 | $1,157 |
| 12 | Clarksville, TN | 176,456 | 7,560 | $1,307 |
| 13 | Jefferson City, TN | 8,579 | 1,387 | $851 |
| 14 | Memphis, TN | 618,980 | 17,285 | $1,181 |
| 15 | Franklin, TN | 87,133 | 41 | $1,923 |
| 16 | Greeneville, TN | 15,646 | 785 | $650 |
| 17 | Cleveland, TN | 48,829 | 2,617 | $1,034 |
| 18 | Gallatin, TN | 48,532 | 226 | $1,395 |
| 19 | Pulaski, TN | 8,285 | 864 | $835 |
| 20 | Lebanon, TN | 44,788 | 2,104 | $1,306 |
| 21 | Athens, TN | 14,471 | 846 | $846 |
| 22 | Jackson, TN | 68,435 | 2,343 | $1,145 |
| 23 | Bristol, TN | 27,636 | 908 | $842 |
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