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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 2023 rankings named Tennessee Technological University the best school in Tennessee for trade school students working on their degree. This medium-sized public school is located in Cookeville, Tennessee, and it awarded 2,502 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Tennessee Technological University

#2

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, Tennessee
1,179 Total Awards

The excellent programs at Trevecca Nazarene University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade schools in Tennessee. Trevecca Nazarene University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Nashville, Tennessee that handed out 1,179 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Trevecca Nazarene University Report

#3

King University

Bristol, Tennessee
633 Total Awards

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend King University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Tennessee list. King is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Bristol, Tennessee. 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. UT Chattanooga is a public institution located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 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. Located in Jackson, Tennessee, the small public school awarded 665 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Jackson State Community College

#6

Motlow State Community College

Tullahoma, Tennessee
1,071 Total Awards

Motlow State Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Tennessee ranking. Tullahoma, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,071 students 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 located in Nashville, Tennessee and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,532 degrees to qualified students.

Full Lipscomb University Report

#8

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee
4,862 Total Awards

University of Memphis ranked #8 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Tennessee list. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, the large public school handed out 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. 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 did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in Gallatin, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,628 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

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#11

Remington College - Memphis Campus

Memphis, Tennessee
204 Total Awards

Remington College - Memphis Campus ranked #11 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Tennessee list. Remington College - Memphis Campus is a private not-for-profit institution located in Memphis, Tennessee. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 204 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#12

Christian Brothers University

Memphis, Tennessee
664 Total Awards

Christian Brothers University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Tennessee list. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 664 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Christian Brothers University

#13

Union University

Jackson, Tennessee
982 Total Awards

Union University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Tennessee list. Union University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Jackson, Tennessee that handed out 982 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Union University Report

#14

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee
4,677 Total Awards

Middle Tennessee State University landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Middle Tennessee State University is a large public school situated in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It awarded 4,677 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Middle Tennessee State University

1,106 Total Awards

Southwest Tennessee Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #15 on the list. Southwest Tennessee Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Memphis, Tennessee that 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 landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. 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

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.

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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. Located in Collegedale, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 660 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#19

Tennessee State University

Nashville, Tennessee
1,272 Total Awards

Tennessee State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,272 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#20

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee
3,604 Total Awards

East Tennessee State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #20 on the list. Located in Johnson City, Tennessee, the fairly large public school handed out 3,604 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on East Tennessee State University

#21

Dyersburg State Community College

Dyersburg, Tennessee
883 Total Awards

Dyersburg State Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Tennessee list. Located in Dyersburg, Tennessee, the small public school awarded 883 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

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#22

Cumberland University

Lebanon, Tennessee
657 Total Awards

Cumberland University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Tennessee list. Located in Lebanon, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 657 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Cumberland University

#23

Lee University

Cleveland, Tennessee
1,133 Total Awards

Lee University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #23 on the list. 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. Located in McKenzie, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 688 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full Bethel University Report

#25

Columbia State Community College

Columbia, Tennessee
1,099 Total Awards

With a ranking of #25, Columbia State Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. This small public school is located in Columbia, Tennessee, and it awarded 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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