Ranking

Best Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Colleges in Tennessee 2026

Christian Brothers University leads this ROI ranking with a A value grade and a 14.58 ROI score. EduGradify ranks 25 colleges here by earnings against net price.

30 Tennessee colleges offering Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, ranked by EduGradify value grade.

Schools ranked: 25
Cheapest net price: $9,735
Top earnings 10y: $60,249
Public / Private: 10 / 15

Christian Brothers University

Memphis, TN · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 14.58
Net price: $9,854
Earnings 10y: $57,478
Acceptance: 86.7%

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, TN · Public

ROI score: 11.38
Net price: $9,735
Earnings 10y: $44,301
Acceptance: 96.4%

The University of Tennessee-Martin

Martin, TN · Public

ROI score: 10.33
Net price: $10,701
Earnings 10y: $44,213
Acceptance: 88.2%

University of Memphis

Memphis, TN · Public

ROI score: 9.77
Net price: $12,397
Earnings 10y: $48,458
Acceptance: 72%

Bethel University

McKenzie, TN · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 9.42
Net price: $12,595
Earnings 10y: $47,482
Acceptance: 60.2%

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, TN · Public

ROI score: 9.08
Net price: $13,359
Earnings 10y: $48,541
Acceptance: 69.1%

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Chattanooga, TN · Public

ROI score: 8.96
Net price: $14,265
Earnings 10y: $51,151
Acceptance: 81.1%

Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, TN · Public

ROI score: 8.51
Net price: $14,246
Earnings 10y: $48,501
Acceptance: 76.1%

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN · Public

ROI score: 7.94
Net price: $18,976
Earnings 10y: $60,249
Acceptance: 41.6%

#10

Tennessee Wesleyan University

Athens, TN · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 7.75
Net price: $14,836
Earnings 10y: $45,989
Acceptance: 68.9%

#11

Cumberland University

Lebanon, TN · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 7.69
Net price: $18,759
Earnings 10y: $57,687
Acceptance: 67.3%

#12

The University of Tennessee Southern

Pulaski, TN · Public

ROI score: 7.60
Net price: $12,798
Earnings 10y: $38,924
Acceptance: 86.7%

#13

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, TN · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 7.34
Net price: $16,813
Earnings 10y: $49,378
Acceptance: 69.4%

#14

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, TN · Public

ROI score: 7.02
Net price: $15,983
Earnings 10y: $44,859
Acceptance: 86.2%

#15

Tennessee State University

Nashville, TN · Public

ROI score: 6.76
Net price: $15,796
Earnings 10y: $42,730
Acceptance: 70.1%

#16

King University

Bristol, TN · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.69
Net price: $22,347
Earnings 10y: $59,831
Acceptance: 99.7%

#17

Bryan College-Dayton

Dayton, TN · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.60
Net price: $20,614
Earnings 10y: $54,434
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#18

Maryville College

Maryville, TN · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.36
Net price: $19,360
Earnings 10y: $49,279
Acceptance: 60.9%

#19

Lincoln Memorial University

Harrogate, TN · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.12
Net price: $20,406
Earnings 10y: $49,956
Acceptance: 62.6%

#20

Carson-Newman University

Jefferson City, TN · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.97
Net price: $20,251
Earnings 10y: $48,382
Acceptance: 90.5%

#21

Lee University

Cleveland, TN · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.72
Net price: $18,878
Earnings 10y: $43,222
Acceptance: 70.5%

#22

Lipscomb University

Nashville, TN · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.61
Net price: $24,739
Earnings 10y: $55,541
Acceptance: 67.7%

#23

Southern Adventist University

Collegedale, TN · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.52
Net price: $24,345
Earnings 10y: $53,723
Acceptance: 65.5%

#24

Freed-Hardeman University

Henderson, TN · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.50
Net price: $21,574
Earnings 10y: $47,485
Acceptance: 59.7%

#25

Milligan University

Milligan, TN · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.46
Net price: $21,365
Earnings 10y: $46,641
Acceptance: 72.3%

How we picked this list

This list starts with Tennessee schools with positive Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness program-share evidence, then sorts by EduGradify's school-wide ROI proxy: ten-year median earnings weighed against average net price. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 7.75 (10 public, 15 private).

Source transparency: every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard public data set. See our full methodology for the ROI formula, value grade rules and missing-data handling.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

Christian Brothers University in Memphis, TN tops this ranking. EduGradify value grade is A.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by roi score using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

How many Tennessee colleges are in this list?

30 Tennessee colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.

Can I use this ranking as a final college decision?

Use it as a shortlist, not a final decision. The ranking compares school-wide federal data; you should still confirm program fit, aid letters, graduation path, transfer policies and current costs with each college.