Rankings / By State
Best Biology Colleges in Tennessee
- 27
- Schools
- $52,999
- Avg. Earnings
- 57%
- Avg. Graduation
- $20,583
- Avg. Net Price
- $21,510
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Graduate earnings span a wide band on this list, from $38,924 at the low end to $91,565 at the top. That 2.4× spread shows how much outcomes vary within a single category.
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Christian Brothers University offers the strongest payback. Graduates earn a median of $57,478 against $9,854 in annual net price, the best earnings-to-cost ratio in this ranking.
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Cost and quality are not at odds here. The most affordable school, Christian Brothers University at $9,854 a year in net price, delivers earnings of $57,478, matching or exceeding the list average.
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Completion rates separate this field: Vanderbilt University graduates 93% of its students, well above the 57% list average. Finishing what you start matters as much as where you start.
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Debt-to-earnings ratios favor Vanderbilt University: graduates owe only 0.15× their yearly income, the most manageable debt burden on the list.
Surprising Comparisons
- Price and payoff diverge sharply here. Christian Brothers University ($9,854/yr) and Belmont University ($33,147/yr) produce graduates earning $57,478 and $55,930 respectively, a far narrower earnings gap than the $23,293 cost difference would suggest.
- On a cost-adjusted basis, Christian Brothers University outperforms Vanderbilt University: similar career earnings at a much lower net price.
- Completion is where this ranking's schools diverge most: Vanderbilt University graduates 93% of its students versus 28% at Tusculum University. Access without completion is opportunity unclaimed.
The Takeaway
A consistent pattern: the schools that finish at the top get there by delivering strong earnings, manageable debt, and real mobility rather than by charging more or rejecting more applicants. Those outcomes are what define educational value.
What This Means for Students
For students evaluating these schools, begin with Christian Brothers University and Vanderbilt University. Look past sticker price: pull each school's net price for your income level, compare it against projected earnings, and let the data guide the decision instead of the brand.
Why this ranking matters
These schools are ranked on outcomes that compound: graduate earnings, upward mobility, debt, and value, all drawn from federal tax records and Scorecard data rather than reputation surveys. The list rewards results over prestige, led by institutions whose graduates earn a median of about $50K ten years after enrollment.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Vanderbilt University #1 overall | $91,565 ▲ +73% vs avg | $15,846 | 93% | 84 |
| 2 Rhodes College #2 overall | $66,651 ▲ +26% vs avg | $28,585 | 83% | 79 |
| 3 The University of the South #3 overall | $64,911 ▲ +22% vs avg | $27,872 | 81% | 78 |
| $57,478 ▲ +8% vs avg | $9,854 | 55% | 74 | |
| $55,541 ▲ +5% vs avg | $24,739 | 70% | 73 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Biology Colleges in Tennessee
This analysis ranks 27 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $52,999 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 57% and an average net price of $20,583.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Christian Brothers University — Net Price: $9,854 | Graduation Rate: 55%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Vanderbilt University — 93% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Vanderbilt University — Median alumni earnings: $91,565
Our Analysis Found
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Tennessee Opportunity Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about higher education and opportunity in Tennessee?
$49,956
Median earnings (10yr)
54%
Median graduation rate
$20,406
Median net price
1.4%
Avg. mobility rate
Students tend to study where they live and work where they study, which makes a state's colleges its most important economic development asset. This ranking evaluates how well institutions across Tennessee serve that role: producing graduates with strong earnings, keeping talent in the regional economy, and offering affordable paths for local students.
Start with the medians across these 27 schools. Graduates earn a median of $49,956 ten years after enrollment, or about $1,956 above the $48,000 a typical American worker earns. The median graduation rate is 54%, and the typical net price (what students pay after grants) runs $20,406 a year with about $21,500 in federal debt. Pell grants reach 31% of students on average, and the average mobility rate, the share of students lifted from the bottom income quintile to the top, is 1.4%.
For Tennessee, the institutions that combine manageable costs with strong graduate outcomes are the ones building the local workforce. With a median net price of $20,406 and graduates earning a median of $49,956, these schools sit where the talent pipeline and economic development meet.
The podium
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Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Vanderbilt University lands at #1 with a 84/100 composite, led by academic quality (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (80/100). Graduates earn a median $91,565 a decade after enrolling, 73% above this list's average, and net price runs $15,846 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Rhodes College lands at #2 with a 79/100 composite, led by academic quality (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (50/100). Graduates earn a median $66,651 a decade after enrolling, 26% above this list's average, and net price runs $28,585 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
The University of the South lands at #3 with a 78/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (58/100). Graduates earn a median $64,911 a decade after enrolling, 22% above this list's average, and net price runs $27,872 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Christian Brothers University lands at #4 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (64/100). Graduates earn a median $57,478 a decade after enrolling, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $9,854 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Lipscomb University lands at #5 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (54/100). Graduates earn a median $55,541 a decade after enrolling, 5% above this list's average, and net price runs $24,739 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Tennessee Technological University lands at #6 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (65/100). Graduates earn a median $48,501 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,246 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Middle Tennessee State University lands at #7 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (64/100). Graduates earn a median $48,541 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,359 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Southern Adventist University lands at #8 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (50/100). Graduates earn a median $53,723 a decade after enrolling, 1% above this list's average, and net price runs $24,345 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Trevecca Nazarene University lands at #9 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (61/100). Graduates earn a median $49,378 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,813 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Union University lands at #10 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $53,990 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $27,171 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Maryville College lands at #11 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (52/100). Graduates earn a median $49,279 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $19,360 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Tennessee Wesleyan University lands at #12 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (61/100). Graduates earn a median $45,989 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,836 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Lincoln Memorial University lands at #13 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (55/100). Graduates earn a median $49,956 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,406 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
Belmont University lands at #14 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (45/100). Graduates earn a median $55,930 a decade after enrolling, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $33,147 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Cumberland University lands at #15 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $57,687 a decade after enrolling, 9% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,759 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
King University lands at #16 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (46/100). Graduates earn a median $59,831 a decade after enrolling, 13% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,347 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
Milligan University lands at #17 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (53/100). Graduates earn a median $46,641 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $21,365 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
Tusculum University lands at #18 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (48/100). Graduates earn a median $44,367 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $21,131 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Knoxville, TN · 42% accepted · $18,976 net
Why it ranks #19
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville lands at #19 with a 64/100 composite, led by academic quality (77/100) and pulled down by social mobility (57/100). Graduates earn a median $60,249 a decade after enrolling, 14% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,976 a year. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #20
Tennessee State University lands at #20 with a 64/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (43/100). Graduates earn a median $42,730 a decade after enrolling, 19% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,796 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #21
The University of Tennessee Southern lands at #21 with a 62/100 composite, led by value per dollar (68/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (58/100). Graduates earn a median $38,924 a decade after enrolling, 27% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,798 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Chattanooga, TN · 81% accepted · $14,265 net
Why it ranks #22
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga lands at #22 with a 61/100 composite, led by value per dollar (67/100) and pulled down by social mobility (59/100). Graduates earn a median $51,151 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,265 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #23
Carson-Newman University lands at #23 with a 60/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (63/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (55/100). Graduates earn a median $48,382 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,251 a year. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #24
Freed-Hardeman University lands at #24 with a 60/100 composite, led by academic quality (75/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (52/100). Graduates earn a median $47,485 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $21,574 a year. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #25
Fisk University lands at #25 with a 57/100 composite, led by social mobility (65/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (34/100). Graduates earn a median $45,454 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $32,020 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #26
Bryan College-Dayton lands at #26 with a 54/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (65/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (54/100). Graduates earn a median $54,434 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,614 a year. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #27
Welch College lands at #27 with a 41/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (59/100) and pulled down by social mobility (29/100). Graduates earn a median $42,198 a decade after enrolling, 20% below this list's average, and net price runs $25,263 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 27 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
When considering a biology degree in Tennessee, prospective students have a range of strong options. From Vanderbilt University to smaller liberal arts colleges, these institutions share a commitment to preparing students for careers in the life sciences. In fact, the average earnings for biology graduates from these schools is $52,447, showing that a degree can lead to a stable financial future.
What sets the top schools apart is not just their reputation, but also their concrete outcomes. Metrics like graduation rates, post-graduation earnings, and student debt are critical when evaluating programs. For example, Vanderbilt University boasts a remarkable 93% graduation rate and impressive earnings of $91,565, while schools with lower graduation rates, like Christian Brothers University at 55%, generally see lower earnings and higher debt levels.
Take Vanderbilt University and Rhodes College as an example. While both are excellent choices, Vanderbilt's graduates earn an average of $91,565 compared to Rhodes' $66,651. However, Rhodes has a higher net price at $28,585, which could make it less accessible for some families. This contrast highlights the importance of weighing financial considerations alongside potential earning outcomes as students explore their options.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 19 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 1.4%. Tennessee State University leads the group at 2.9%, with Christian Brothers University (2.6%) and Southern Adventist University (2.4%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 8.1% of students start in the bottom income quintile. Tennessee State University leads at 18.2%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 22% across this list. Vanderbilt University posts the highest success rate at 59.3%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Social capital, measured by economic connectedness, captures the degree of cross-class friendship on campus, another dimension Opportunity Insights ties to long-run outcomes. Across these schools it averages 1.55 against a national benchmark of 1.0. Vanderbilt University reaches 1.82, the highest on the list.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Biology Colleges in Tennessee: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Biology Colleges in Tennessee ranking? +
Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Biology Colleges in Tennessee ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $91,565 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 93% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Vanderbilt University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $91,565 ten years after enrollment, well above the $52,999 average across the 27 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Christian Brothers University leads: graduates earn a median $57,478 against net price of about $9,854 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Vanderbilt University has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 93%, compared with a 57% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $20,583 a year across the 27 ranked schools with cost data. Christian Brothers University is among the most affordable at roughly $9,854. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Biology Colleges in Tennessee ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 27 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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