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Best Trade Schools in Tennessee

2023 Best Trade Schools in Tennessee

35 Schools Ranked
$39,831 Average Earnings
$32,154 Avg Student Debt

There are so many trade school programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Best Trade Schools in Tennessee ranking. Our analysis looked at 35 schools in Tennessee to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Trade Schools in Tennessee

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, Tennessee
2,502 Total Awards

Our analysis found Tennessee Technological University to be the best school for trade school students in Tennessee. Located in Cookeville, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school handed out 2,502 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Tennessee Technological University Report

#2

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, Tennessee
1,179 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Trevecca Nazarene University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Trade Schools in Tennessee list. Trevecca Nazarene University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Nashville, Tennessee that handed out 1,179 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Trevecca Nazarene University

#3

King University

Bristol, Tennessee
633 Total Awards

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means King University is a great place for trade school students. King is located in Bristol, Tennessee and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 633 degrees to qualified students.

Full King University Report

2,551 Total Awards

The excellent programs at The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade schools in Tennessee. Located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the fairly large public school handed out 2,551 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#5

Jackson State Community College

Jackson, Tennessee
665 Total Awards

Out of the 35 schools in Tennessee that were part of this year’s ranking, Jackson State Community College landed the # 5 spot on the list. JSCC is located in Jackson, Tennessee and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 665 degrees to qualified students.

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#6

Motlow State Community College

Tullahoma, Tennessee
1,071 Total Awards

Motlow State Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #6 on the list. Motlow is located in Tullahoma, Tennessee and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,071 degrees to qualified students.

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#7

Lipscomb University

Nashville, Tennessee
1,532 Total Awards

Lipscomb University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 1,532 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Lipscomb University

#8

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee
4,862 Total Awards

University of Memphis did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #8 on the list. This large public school is located in Memphis, Tennessee, and it awarded 4,862 degrees in 2021-2022.

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8,049 Total Awards

With a ranking of #9, The University of Tennessee - Knoxville did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. UT Knoxville is a large public school situated in Knoxville, Tennessee. It awarded 8,049 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#10

Volunteer State Community College

Gallatin, Tennessee
1,628 Total Awards

Volunteer State Community College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Located in Gallatin, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,628 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Volunteer State Community College

#11

Remington College - Memphis Campus

Memphis, Tennessee
204 Total Awards

Remington College - Memphis Campus landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Memphis, Tennessee, and it awarded 204 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#12

Christian Brothers University

Memphis, Tennessee
664 Total Awards

Christian Brothers University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #12 on the list. Christian Brothers University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Memphis, Tennessee that handed out 664 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Christian Brothers University Report

#13

Union University

Jackson, Tennessee
982 Total Awards

With a ranking of #13, Union University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Located in Jackson, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 982 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Union University Report

#14

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee
4,677 Total Awards

With a ranking of #14, Middle Tennessee State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Murfreesboro, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 4,677 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Middle Tennessee State University

1,106 Total Awards

Southwest Tennessee Community College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Memphis, Tennessee, and it awarded 1,106 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Southwest Tennessee Community College Report

#16

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, Tennessee
2,421 Total Awards

Austin Peay State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Tennessee ranking. Austin Peay State University is a medium-sized public school located in Clarksville, Tennessee that handed out 2,421 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Austin Peay State University Report

#17

Lincoln Memorial University

Harrogate, Tennessee
1,407 Total Awards

Lincoln Memorial University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Tennessee ranking. Located in Harrogate, Tennessee, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 1,407 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Lincoln Memorial University Report

#18

Southern Adventist University

Collegedale, Tennessee
660 Total Awards

Southern Adventist University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Tennessee ranking. Collegedale, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 660 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Southern Adventist University

#19

Tennessee State University

Nashville, Tennessee
1,272 Total Awards

Tennessee State University landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Tennessee State University is located in Nashville, Tennessee and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,272 degrees to qualified students.

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#20

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee
3,604 Total Awards

East Tennessee State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Tennessee ranking. Located in Johnson City, Tennessee, the fairly large public school awarded 3,604 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

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#21

Dyersburg State Community College

Dyersburg, Tennessee
883 Total Awards

Dyersburg State Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Tennessee ranking. Dyersburg State Community College is a small public school located in Dyersburg, Tennessee that handed out 883 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#22

Cumberland University

Lebanon, Tennessee
657 Total Awards

With a ranking of #22, Cumberland University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Cumberland University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Lebanon, Tennessee that handed out 657 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Cumberland University

#23

Lee University

Cleveland, Tennessee
1,133 Total Awards

Lee University landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Cleveland, Tennessee, and it awarded 1,133 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Lee University Report

#24

Bethel University

McKenzie, Tennessee
688 Total Awards

With a ranking of #24, Bethel University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Bethel is located in McKenzie, Tennessee and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 688 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Bethel University

#25

Columbia State Community College

Columbia, Tennessee
1,099 Total Awards

Columbia State Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #25 on the list. Columbia State Community College is a small public school located in Columbia, Tennessee that handed out 1,099 degrees in 2021-2022.

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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