The college explorer
Find a college.
See what it returns.
Look beyond the sticker price. Explore real costs, graduate earnings, and how long a degree takes to pay for itself.
How we measure value3,376colleges to explore
434with a Strong ROI verdict
College Scorecard · 2026 release
Federal figures. Our calculations.
91 matching colleges · Showing 1–24
Compare collegesBrowse by state or territory
Payback guideStrong ≤5 yearsSolid ≤10Slow ≤20Weak >20 or no payback
Tennessee 91 matching
View state rankingSolid ROI
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
Net price / year$18,976Payback6.4 years
Weak ROI
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN
Net price / year$13,359Payback295.2 years
Weak ROI
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN
Net price / year$12,397Payback506 years
Weak ROI
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
Net price / year$14,265Payback20.4 years
Weak ROI
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN
Net price / year$15,983PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
South College
Knoxville, TN
Net price / year$17,858PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN
Net price / year$14,246Payback404.1 years
Weak ROI
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN
Net price / year$9,735PaybackNot available
Strong ROI
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
Net price / year$15,846Payback1.5 years
Slow ROI
Belmont University
Nashville, TN
Net price / year$33,147Payback17.5 years
Weak ROI
Pellissippi State Community College
Knoxville, TN
Net price / year$4,983PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Nashville State Community College
Nashville, TN
Net price / year$6,777PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Volunteer State Community College
Gallatin, TN
Net price / year$7,802PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Chattanooga State Community College
Chattanooga, TN
Net price / year$5,283PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Southwest Tennessee Community College
Memphis, TN
Net price / year$4,754PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
The University of Tennessee-Martin
Martin, TN
Net price / year$10,701PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Tennessee State University
Nashville, TN
Net price / year$15,796PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
Net price / year$23,958PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Northeast State Community College
Blountville, TN
Net price / year$6,864PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Motlow State Community College
Tullahoma, TN
Net price / year$15,742PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Columbia State Community College
Columbia, TN
Net price / year$4,734PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Walters State Community College
Morristown, TN
Net price / year$5,387PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Roane State Community College
Harriman, TN
Net price / year$4,270PaybackNot available
Slow ROI
Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN
Net price / year$24,739Payback13.8 years