Best colleges for Physics in Tennessee
Ranked by graduates a year
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Middle Tennessee State University and Rhodes College award the most Physics degrees and certificates in Tennessee: 46, 16 and 15 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 16 Tennessee colleges offer Physics and award 129 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Physics program focuses on the study of matter, energy, and the fundamental forces of nature. It encompasses various specializations, including Atomic/Molecular Physics, Nuclear Physics, and Optics/Optical Sciences, making it suitable…
16 institutions offering Physics in Tennessee
Graduate earnings are not yet reported for these institutions; ordered by graduates a year.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public | — | 46 | 74% | — | $25,344 |
| 2 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public | — | 16 | 54% | — | — |
| 3 | Rhodes College Memphis Private not-for-profit | — | 15 | 85% | $19,854 | — |
| 4 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit | — | 14 | 94% | $14,854 | — |
| 5 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public | — | 7 | 53% | — | — |
| 6 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public | — | 7 | 50% | — | — |
| 7 | University of Memphis Memphis Public | — | 5 | 51% | — | — |
| 8 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public | — | 4 | 40% | — | — |
| 9 | Carson-Newman University Jefferson City Private not-for-profit | — | 3 | 53% | $19,537 | — |
| 10 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Public | — | 3 | 58% | — | — |
| 11 | Lipscomb University Nashville Private not-for-profit | — | 2 | 72% | $24,309 | — |
| 12 | Fisk University Nashville Private not-for-profit | — | 2 | 30% | $27,814 | — |
| 13 | The University of the South Sewanee Private not-for-profit | — | 2 | 80% | $21,573 | — |
| 14 | Lane College Jackson Private not-for-profit | — | 1 | 18% | $14,494 | — |
| 15 | Southern Adventist University Collegedale Private not-for-profit | — | 1 | 49% | $24,187 | — |
| 16 | Union University Jackson Private not-for-profit | — | 1 | 66% | $25,882 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Physics degrees in Tennessee
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public | 46 | Not reported |
| 2 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public | 16 | Not reported |
| 3 | Rhodes College Memphis Private not-for-profit | 15 | Not reported |
| 4 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 14 | Not reported |
| 5 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public | 7 | Not reported |
| 6 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public | 7 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of Memphis Memphis Public | 5 | Not reported |
| 8 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public | 4 | Not reported |
| 9 | Carson-Newman University Jefferson City Private not-for-profit | 3 | Not reported |
| 10 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Public | 3 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 6 Tennessee colleges offering Physics
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lipscomb University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Fisk University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| The University of the South | Sewanee | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Lane College | Jackson | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Union University | Jackson | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Physicists (SOC 19-2012).
Top skills
What Physicists earn in Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Physics programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Physics degrees?+
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (46 graduates a year), Middle Tennessee State University (16 graduates a year) and Rhodes College (15 graduates a year) award the most Physics degrees and certificates in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 16 Tennessee colleges offer Physics.
How much do Physicists earn in Tennessee?+
The average annual wage for Physicists in Tennessee is $171,070 (median $165,010), across about 240 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Physics program?+
The Physics program focuses on the study of matter, energy, and the fundamental forces of nature. It encompasses various specializations, including Atomic/Molecular Physics, Nuclear Physics, and Optics/Optical Sciences, making it suitable…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop science, reading comprehension, mathematics, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Physicists?+
The national job outlook is about +4.0% growth with around 1,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card