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# Best Psychology Colleges in Tennessee (2026)

Updated October 1, 2026

This page ranks the 25 Psychology programs in Tennessee by median earnings of Psychology graduates four years after completing. [Vanderbilt University](/school/vanderbilt-university/majors/) leads the list, and across the 24 schools with a reported completion median, median earnings range from $58,715 at The University of the South to $23,649, with a median of $44,690.

For 2 of the 25 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

The list includes 8 public and 17 private nonprofit institutions. Vanderbilt University ranks 62nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally, and it also posts the highest six-year completion rate at 94%. Austin Peay State University reports the lowest average net price at $9,735.

## The ranked list

25 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Median Psychology Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Vanderbilt University · Nashville, TN | $60,327 | $15,846 | $3,414 | 5.9% |
|  | [Vanderbilt University](/school/vanderbilt-university/majors/) [admits 6% of applicants](/school/vanderbilt-university/admissions/) and posts a six-year completion rate of 94%, the highest on this list. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (100 graduates), Research and Experimental Psychology (29 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($71,584) |
| 2 | The University of the South · Sewanee, TN | $58,715 | $27,872 | $10,485 | 56.9% |
|  | The University of the South reports $58,715 in median earnings for its Psychology graduates four years after completing, the top citable figure on the page. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (44 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($58,715) |
| 3 | Fisk University · Nashville, TN | $57,147 | $32,020 | $27,647 | 37.4% |
|  | Fisk University shows median earnings of $57,147 four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $32,020. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (18 graduates) |
| 4 | Christian Brothers University · Memphis, TN | $53,643 | $9,854 | $9,466 | 86.7% |
|  | With an average net price of $9,854, Christian Brothers University ranks 4th on this list and reports median earnings of $53,643 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (26 graduates), Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (8 graduates) |
| 5 | Belmont University · Nashville, TN | $52,172 | $33,147 | $22,950 | 95.3% |
|  | Belmont University graduates 71% of its students within six years and reports median earnings of $52,172 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (39 graduates) |
| 6 | Trevecca Nazarene University · Nashville, TN | $49,989 | $16,813 | $14,532 | 69.4% |
|  | Trevecca Nazarene University ranks 634th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $49,989 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (52 graduates) |
| 7 | Lipscomb University · Nashville, TN | $47,933 | $24,739 | $20,048 | 67.7% |
|  | Lipscomb University admits 68% of applicants and reports median earnings of $47,933 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (40 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($47,933) |
| 8 | Bryan College-Dayton · Dayton, TN | $47,549 | $20,614 | $19,500 | Not reported |
|  | Bryan College-Dayton reports median earnings of $47,549 four years after completing and an average net price of $19,500 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (31 graduates) |
| 9 | Milligan University · Milligan, TN | $46,990 | $21,365 | $15,118 | 72.3% |
|  | Milligan University ranks 9th on this list, with median earnings of $46,990 four years after completing and a six-year completion rate of 63%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (27 graduates) |
| 10 | Tennessee State University · Nashville, TN | $46,721 | $15,796 | $15,005 | 70.1% |
|  | [Tennessee State University](/school/tennessee-state-university/majors/), a public university in Nashville, reports [median earnings of $46,721](/school/tennessee-state-university/outcomes/) four years after completing and an average net price of $15,796. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (65 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($46,721) |
| 11 | Lee University · Cleveland, TN | $46,719 | $18,878 | $12,834 | 70.5% |
|  | Lee University reports median earnings of $46,719 four years after completing and an average net price of $12,834 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (64 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($46,719) |
| 12 | University of Memphis · Memphis, TN | $45,700 | $12,397 | $10,607 | 72.0% |
|  | [University of Memphis](/school/university-of-memphis/majors/) [ranks 224th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-memphis/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $45,700 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (195 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($45,700) |
| 13 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · Chattanooga, TN | $44,700 | $14,265 | $9,876 | 81.1% |
|  | [The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga](/school/the-university-of-tennessee-chattanooga/majors/) reports [median earnings of $44,700](/school/the-university-of-tennessee-chattanooga/outcomes/) for its Psychology graduates four years after completing, and its average net price is $14,265. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (188 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($44,700) |
| 14 | Middle Tennessee State University · Murfreesboro, TN | $44,681 | $13,359 | $9,289 | 69.1% |
|  | With a [six-year completion rate of 54%](/school/middle-tennessee-state-university/outcomes/), [Middle Tennessee State University](/school/middle-tennessee-state-university/majors/) ranks 14th on this list and shows median Psychology earnings of $44,681 four years after graduating. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (218 graduates), Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (18 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology ($55,031), Psychology, General ($43,826) |
| 15 | Union University · Jackson, TN | $44,056 | $27,171 | $25,839 | 60.4% |
|  | Union University, a private nonprofit university in Jackson, admits 60% of applicants and posts median Psychology earnings of $44,056 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (11 graduates) |
| 16 | Tennessee Technological University · Cookeville, TN | $44,043 | $14,246 | $9,815 | 76.1% |
|  | [Tennessee Technological University](/school/tennessee-technological-university/majors/) [ranks 260th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/tennessee-technological-university/) among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally, and its Psychology graduates earn a median of $44,043 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (47 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($44,043) |
| 17 | Cumberland University · Lebanon, TN | $42,713 | $18,759 | $17,882 | 67.3% |
|  | An [average net price of $17,882](/school/cumberland-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 coincides with median Psychology earnings of $42,713 four years after completing at [Cumberland University](/school/cumberland-university/majors/). |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (14 graduates) |
| 18 | East Tennessee State University · Johnson City, TN | $42,358 | $15,983 | $12,433 | 86.2% |
|  | [East Tennessee State University](/school/east-tennessee-state-university/majors/) [admits 86% of applicants](/school/east-tennessee-state-university/admissions/) and reports a six-year completion rate of 53%, alongside median Psychology earnings of $42,358 four years after graduating. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (159 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($42,358) |
| 19 | Austin Peay State University · Clarksville, TN | $41,303 | $9,735 | $7,588 | 96.4% |
|  | [Austin Peay State University](/school/austin-peay-state-university/majors/) carries the lowest average net price on this list at $9,735, and its Psychology graduates earn a [median of $41,303](/school/austin-peay-state-university/outcomes/) four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (89 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($41,303) |
| 20 | King University · Bristol, TN | $40,796 | $22,347 | $22,696 | 99.7% |
|  | [King University](/school/king-university/majors/) [admits 100% of applicants](/school/king-university/admissions/) and posts median Psychology earnings of $40,796 four years after completing, with an average net price of $22,347. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (29 graduates) |
| 21 | Carson-Newman University · Jefferson City, TN | $39,866 | $20,251 | $16,672 | 90.5% |
|  | Carson-Newman University ranks 1141st on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally, and its Psychology graduates earn a median of $39,866 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (26 graduates), Psychology, Other (5 graduates) |
| 22 | Tusculum University · Greeneville, TN | $37,934 | $21,131 | $20,766 | 72.2% |
|  | A six-year completion rate of 25% and median Psychology earnings of $37,934 four years after graduating are reported by Tusculum University. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (14 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($37,934) |
| 23 | The University of Tennessee-Martin · Martin, TN | $36,507 | $10,701 | $7,151 | 88.2% |
|  | The University of Tennessee-Martin reports an average net price of $7,151 for families earning under $30,000, and its Psychology graduates earn a median of $36,507 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (22 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($36,507) |
| 24 | Freed-Hardeman University · Henderson, TN | $25,967 | $21,574 | $20,988 | 59.7% |
|  | Freed-Hardeman University reports median Psychology earnings of $25,967 two years after completing, and its six-year completion rate is 71%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (14 graduates) |
| 25 | Rhodes College · Memphis, TN | $23,649 | $28,585 | $15,770 | 50.4% |
|  | Rhodes College, a private nonprofit college in Memphis, reports median earnings of $23,649 for its Psychology graduates two years after completing, and an average net price of $15,770 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (33 graduates) |

## How this list is ordered

Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Psychology graduates four years after completing, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first. The figure covers federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled after completing the program. For 2 of the 25 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The figures cited on this page cover the 24 schools with a reported completion median. The spread from Vanderbilt University to the bottom of the list is $35,066.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Psychology Colleges in the United States](/rankings/best-psychology-colleges/)
-   [Best Colleges in Tennessee](/rankings/best-colleges-in-tennessee/)
-   [Best Psychology Colleges in Florida](/rankings/best-psychology-colleges-in-florida/)
-   [Best Psychology Colleges in Georgia](/rankings/best-psychology-colleges-in-georgia/)
-   [Best Psychology Colleges in New York](/rankings/best-psychology-colleges-in-new-york/)
-   [Best Psychology Colleges in California](/rankings/best-psychology-colleges-in-california/)