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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 awarded 2,502 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

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#2

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, Tennessee
1,179 Total Awards

Out of the 35 schools in Tennessee that were part of this year’s ranking, Trevecca Nazarene University landed the # 2 spot on the list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 1,179 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#3

King University

Bristol, Tennessee
633 Total Awards

The excellent programs at King University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade schools in Tennessee. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Bristol, Tennessee, and it awarded 633 degrees in 2021-2022.

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2,551 Total Awards

Out of the 35 schools in Tennessee that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the fairly large public school awarded 2,551 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga Report

#5

Jackson State Community College

Jackson, Tennessee
665 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Jackson State Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Trade Schools in Tennessee list. This small public school is located in Jackson, Tennessee, and it awarded 665 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#6

Motlow State Community College

Tullahoma, Tennessee
1,071 Total Awards

Motlow State Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Tennessee list. Motlow is a public institution located in Tullahoma, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,071 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Motlow State Community College Report

#7

Lipscomb University

Nashville, Tennessee
1,532 Total Awards

With a ranking of #7, Lipscomb University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Lipscomb is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Nashville, Tennessee. It awarded 1,532 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#8

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee
4,862 Total Awards

University of Memphis landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Memphis, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 4,862 students 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. Knoxville, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 8,049 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

#10

Volunteer State Community College

Gallatin, Tennessee
1,628 Total Awards

Volunteer State Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Tennessee ranking. Located in Gallatin, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,628 degrees 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 did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #11 on the list. Remington College - Memphis Campus is a very small private not-for-profit school located in Memphis, Tennessee that handed out 204 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Remington College - Memphis Campus Report

#12

Christian Brothers University

Memphis, Tennessee
664 Total Awards

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

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#13

Union University

Jackson, Tennessee
982 Total Awards

Union University landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Union is a private not-for-profit institution located in Jackson, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 982 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#14

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee
4,677 Total Awards

Middle Tennessee State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Tennessee list. This large public school is located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and it awarded 4,677 degrees in 2021-2022.

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1,106 Total Awards

Southwest Tennessee Community College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,106 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#16

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, Tennessee
2,421 Total Awards

Austin Peay State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #16 on the list. Located in Clarksville, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school awarded 2,421 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

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#17

Lincoln Memorial University

Harrogate, Tennessee
1,407 Total Awards

With a ranking of #17, Lincoln Memorial University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. LMU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Harrogate, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,407 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#18

Southern Adventist University

Collegedale, Tennessee
660 Total Awards

Southern Adventist University landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Southern Adventist is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Collegedale, Tennessee. It awarded 660 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Southern Adventist University Report

#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 a public institution located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,272 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Tennessee State University

#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. Johnson City, Tennessee is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 3,604 students in 2021-2022.

Full East Tennessee State University Report

#21

Dyersburg State Community College

Dyersburg, Tennessee
883 Total Awards

Dyersburg State Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #21 on the list. DSCC is a public institution located in Dyersburg, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 883 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Dyersburg State Community College

#22

Cumberland University

Lebanon, Tennessee
657 Total Awards

Cumberland University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #22 on the list. Located in Lebanon, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 657 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

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#23

Lee University

Cleveland, Tennessee
1,133 Total Awards

With a ranking of #23, Lee University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Cleveland, Tennessee, and it awarded 1,133 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#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. This small private not-for-profit school is located in McKenzie, Tennessee, and it awarded 688 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Bethel University Report

#25

Columbia State Community College

Columbia, Tennessee
1,099 Total Awards

Columbia State Community College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Columbia, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,099 students in 2021-2022.

Full Columbia State Community College Report

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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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