Best colleges for Psychology in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
Rhodes College, Trevecca Nazarene University and Vanderbilt University are the top bachelor's Psychology programs in Tennessee by graduate earnings. Rhodes College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $37,563, College Scorecard. Middle Tennessee State University, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and University of Memphis award the most Psychology degrees in Tennessee: 262, 209 and 196 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 33 Tennessee colleges offer Psychology and award 1,796 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Psychology program, specifically in General Psychology, explores the complexities of human behavior and mental processes. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding psychological principles and applying them to…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhodes College Memphis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,563 | 39 | 85% | $19,854 | $24,589 |
| 2 | Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,019 | 51 | 53% | $14,286 | $21,375 |
| 3 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,716 | 71 | 94% | $14,854 | $11,209 |
| 4 | The University of the South Sewanee Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,379 | 32 | 80% | $21,573 | $17,148 |
| 5 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,433 | 262 | 54% | — | $22,000 |
| 6 | University of Memphis Memphis Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,582 | 196 | 51% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,984 | 209 | 50% | — | $21,898 |
| 8 | Tennessee State University Nashville Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,735 | 80 | 34% | — | $27,500 |
| 9 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,705 | 67 | 40% | — | $25,000 |
| 10 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,394 | 54 | 58% | — | $13,750 |
Colleges awarding the most Psychology degrees in Tennessee
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, 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 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public | 262 | $32,433 |
| 2 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public | 209 | $30,984 |
| 3 | University of Memphis Memphis Public | 196 | $31,582 |
| 4 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public | 169 | $26,403 |
| 5 | Tennessee State University Nashville Public | 80 | $30,735 |
| 6 | Belmont University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 74 | Not reported |
| 7 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 71 | $36,716 |
| 8 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public | 67 | $28,705 |
| 9 | South College Knoxville Private for-profit | 61 | Not reported |
| 10 | Lee University Cleveland Private not-for-profit | 56 | $27,576 |
ShowHide the other 23 Tennessee colleges offering Psychology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lipscomb University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 55 |
| Tennessee Technological University | Cookeville | Public | 54 |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 51 |
| Rhodes College | Memphis | Private not-for-profit | 39 |
| The University of Tennessee-Martin | Martin | Public | 38 |
| The University of the South | Sewanee | Private not-for-profit | 32 |
| Carson-Newman University | Jefferson City | Private not-for-profit | 26 |
| Bryan College - Dayton | Dayton | Private not-for-profit | 25 |
| Cumberland University | Lebanon | Private not-for-profit | 23 |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate | Private not-for-profit | 22 |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale | Private not-for-profit | 22 |
| Freed-Hardeman University | Henderson | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Johnson University | Knoxville | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| King University | Bristol | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Fisk University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | Athens | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Christian Brothers University | Memphis | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Union University | Jackson | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Bethel University | McKenzie | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Maryville College | Maryville | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Tusculum University | Greeneville | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Milligan University | Milligan | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Welch College | Gallatin | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033).
Top skills
What Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn in Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Psychology programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Psychology degrees?+
Middle Tennessee State University (262 graduates a year), The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (209 graduates a year) and University of Memphis (196 graduates a year) award the most Psychology degrees in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 33 Tennessee colleges offer Psychology.
What is the best college for Psychology in Tennessee?+
By graduate earnings, Rhodes College leads among bachelor's Psychology programs in Tennessee, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $37,563, College Scorecard. Trevecca Nazarene University and Vanderbilt University follow. By degrees awarded, Middle Tennessee State University is the largest, with 262 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Psychology program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Rhodes College tops the list at $37,563. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn in Tennessee?+
The average annual wage for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in Tennessee is $84,350 (median $76,820), across about 1,180 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Psychology program?+
The Psychology program, specifically in General Psychology, explores the complexities of human behavior and mental processes. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding psychological principles and applying them to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, writing, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists?+
The national job outlook is about +11.2% growth with around 4,800 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.
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