Best value colleges for Biology in Tennessee.2026 Rankings
Choosing the right Biology program in Tennessee means weighing more than just name recognition. We analyzed 37 colleges across the state, scoring each on the metrics that matter most to long-term career success: graduation rates, post-graduation earnings, net cost, and academic rigor.
The data tells an interesting story: Vanderbilt University leads on selectivity (6% acceptance rate), but selectivity is only one dimension of quality. Across Tennessee's Biology programs, the typical in-state price is $26,795 and the average graduation rate is 56%. Graduates of these programs earn a median of $33,515 within one year of completing their degree.
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ranked by value score
| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | Elite· 51 | 6% | 93% | $6,211 | $68,884 | 7:1 | 51 | 7,143 |
| 2 | Rhodes CollegePrivate | Excellent· 45 | 50% | 82% | $16,317 | $28,901 | 11:1 | 33 | 1,931 |
| 3 | The University of the SouthPrivate | Excellent· 44 | 51% | 82% | $18,421 | $23,932 | 9:1 | 33 | 1,598 |
| 4 | Union UniversityPrivate | Great· 38 | 47% | 71% | $25,531 | $53,098 | 8:1 | 60 | 1,637 |
| 5 | Le Moyne-Owen CollegePrivate | Strong· 36 | 97% | 25% | $9,198 | — | 9:1 | 25 | 571 |
| 6 | Lee UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 72% | 61% | $16,890 | $35,892 | 12:1 | 58 | 2,712 |
| 7 | Lincoln Memorial UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 59% | 54% | $19,591 | $54,326 | 9:1 | 35 | 1,487 |
| 8 | Strong· 36 | 59% | 44% | $14,610 | $41,284 | 12:1 | 39 | 832 | |
| 9 | Strong· 36 | 46% | 74% | $18,820 | $27,487 | 18:1 | 99 | 28,763 | |
| 10 | Strong· 35 | 88% | 56% | $12,547 | $50,114 | 9:1 | 60 | 953 | |
| 11 | Lipscomb UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 67% | 69% | $23,820 | $20,387 | 13:1 | 75 | 3,021 |
| 12 | Milligan UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 70% | 60% | $20,830 | $39,739 | 9:1 | 36 | 783 |
| 13 | Strong· 35 | 83% | 36% | $15,701 | $34,798 | 13:1 | 30 | 827 | |
| 14 | Maryville CollegePrivate | Strong· 34 | 66% | 47% | $19,434 | $32,423 | 12:1 | 46 | 1,028 |
| 15 | Strong· 34 | 68% | 54% | $12,840 | $35,986 | 17:1 | 72 | 16,115 | |
| 16 | Strong· 34 | 77% | 53% | $12,478 | $29,643 | 17:1 | 47 | 9,878 | |
| 17 | Good· 33 | 68% | 54% | $15,299 | $68,494 | 6:1 | 6 | 673 | |
| 18 | Carson-Newman UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 68% | 46% | $17,326 | $42,215 | 12:1 | 64 | 1,374 |
| 19 | Freed-Hardeman UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 91% | 68% | $19,533 | $39,905 | 13:1 | 39 | 1,244 |
| 20 | King UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 54% | 46% | $21,500 | $43,075 | 12:1 | 42 | 975 |
| 21 | Good· 33 | 93% | 33% | $11,079 | $30,672 | 13:1 | 34 | 6,498 | |
| 22 | Good· 33 | 83% | 54% | $14,405 | $25,087 | 16:1 | 41 | 8,495 | |
| 23 | Belmont UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 96% | 72% | $27,345 | $37,296 | 12:1 | 65 | 7,306 |
| 24 | Fisk UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 58% | 44% | $27,075 | $28,698 | 11:1 | 20 | 950 |
| 25 | Good· 32 | 87% | 55% | $12,457 | $25,185 | 15:1 | 39 | 4,600 | |
| 26 | Good· 31 | 96% | 45% | $16,365 | $24,662 | 15:1 | 40 | 7,365 | |
| 27 | Trevecca Nazarene UniversityPrivate | Good· 31 | 70% | 55% | $12,303 | $43,262 | 22:1 | 51 | 1,697 |
| 28 | Cumberland UniversityPrivate | Good· 30 | 67% | 47% | $17,891 | $45,973 | 18:1 | 31 | 2,053 |
| 29 | Good· 30 | 67% | 51% | $23,907 | $45,366 | 16:1 | 83 | 2,673 | |
| 30 | University of MemphisPublic | Good· 30 | 93% | 49% | $15,357 | $32,145 | 17:1 | 50 | 13,645 |