My list

Tennessee · Getting in

Easiest colleges to get into in Tennessee

Updated Federal and Common Data Set numbers, each with its year

The short answer

The easiest four-year colleges to get into in Tennessee are Bryan College-Dayton (open admission), Lane College (open admission) and King University (99.7%), by the share of applicants admitted.

A high acceptance rate means the college admits most people who apply. Open-admission colleges admit anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent. Each row also shows the average price after grants, so you can weigh the two.

The list (18 of 36)

Four-year colleges in Tennessee with 500 or more undergraduates, open-admission colleges first, then the highest acceptance rate. The list shows 18 of the 36 colleges with an acceptance rate or open admission on file. Rates come from IPEDS (fall 2024).

  1. Bryan College-Dayton Open admission Dayton, TN · Admits every applicant with a high school diploma. Average price after grants: $23,601 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, 2024-25
  2. Lane College Open admission Jackson, TN · Admits every applicant with a high school diploma. Average price after grants: $12,660 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, 2024-25
  3. King University 99.7% admitted Bristol, TN · Average price after grants: $22,416 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  4. Le Moyne-Owen College 99.2% admitted Memphis, TN · Average price after grants: $6,993 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  5. Austin Peay State University 96% admitted Clarksville, TN · Average price after grants: $9,049 a year in-state, about $14,809 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  6. Belmont University 95% admitted Nashville, TN · Average price after grants: $32,648 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  7. Carson-Newman University 90% admitted Jefferson City, TN · Average price after grants: $18,130 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  8. The University of Tennessee-Martin 88% admitted Martin, TN · Average price after grants: $10,211 a year in-state, about $16,251 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  9. Christian Brothers University 87% admitted Memphis, TN · Average price after grants: $16,842 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  10. The University of Tennessee Southern 87% admitted Pulaski, TN · Average price after grants: $6,690 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  11. East Tennessee State University 86% admitted Johnson City, TN · Average price after grants: $14,208 a year in-state, about $18,408 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  12. Baptist Health Sciences University 82% admitted Memphis, TN · Average price after grants: $10,165 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  13. The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga 81% admitted Chattanooga, TN · Average price after grants: $15,026 a year in-state, about $23,332 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  14. Tennessee Technological University 76% admitted Cookeville, TN · Average price after grants: $16,830 a year in-state, about $21,030 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  15. Milligan University 72% admitted Milligan, TN · Average price after grants: $20,000 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  16. Tusculum University 72% admitted Greeneville, TN · Average price after grants: $20,508 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  17. University of Memphis 72% admitted Memphis, TN · Average price after grants: $12,192 a year in-state, about $16,896 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  18. Lee University 71% admitted Cleveland, TN · Average price after grants: $21,034 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
Open Tennessee colleges in the planner

The planner lists every Tennessee college with your own reach, target or likely label once you add your grades. Nothing leaves your phone. Open the planner

What are the easiest colleges to get into in Tennessee?

The easiest four-year colleges to get into in Tennessee are Bryan College-Dayton (open admission), Lane College (open admission) and King University (99.7%), by the share of applicants admitted.

How many of these colleges have open admission?

2 of the 18 colleges listed have open admission: they admit anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent. The others admitted 71% to 99.7% of applicants.

How recent are these acceptance rates?

Each row shows its year. Rates come from IPEDS, the federal college survey, for students who applied for fall 2024, or from the college's own Common Data Set for fall 2025 where that is newer.

Numbers change each year when colleges and the Department of Education publish new data. Confirm costs and admission rules with the college before you apply.

Keep going