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Downtown Jefferson City looking westPhoto: AppalachianCentrist · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Jefferson City

Jefferson City is home to Carson-Newman University

Carson-Newman University (1,900 students on campus) is inside the city. About 14% of Jefferson City’s residents are enrolled in college, above Tennessee (5%).

Carson-Newman University

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Jefferson City. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
2
6,558 students on campus
Nearest college
0.7 mi
Carson-Newman University
Residents in college
14%
Above TN (5%)
Nearest community college
13.7 mi
Walters State · $4,752 tuition
Nearest public university
27.5 mi
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · $13,812 in-state
Median household income
$61K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Jefferson City

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A university in Jefferson CityCarson-Newman University has 1,900 students on campus in Jefferson City, 53% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 13.7 miles awayWalters State Community College in Morristown: tuition and fees $4,752 a year for Tennessee residents.In-state price at The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleLiving in Tennessee, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville charges $13,812 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $33,256. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 14% of residentsAbove Tennessee (5%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Jefferson City

One private college within 0.7 miles, and Walters State Community College 13.7 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, is 27.5 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miWalters StateCarson-Newman UniversityJefferson City
University or collegeCommunity college
Carson-Newman UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,900 on campus · In Jefferson City90%admitted$20knet price53%graduate$48kearningsWalters State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,658 on campus · 13.7 mi · Morristown$5knet price33%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $4,752 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Jefferson City’s median household income ($60,638) falls.

Walters State Community College13.7 mi · Morristown · sticker $14,313 · tuition $4,752$6,453a year
Carson-Newman UniversityIn Jefferson City · sticker $49,024$17,313a year
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville27.5 mi · Knoxville · sticker $33,678$18,206a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Carson-Newman UniversityWalters StateThe University of Tennessee-Knoxville
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville74% graduate$60k earnings$20k typical debt
Walters State Community College33% graduate$37k earnings
Carson-Newman University53% graduate$48k earnings$22k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Jefferson City

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Carson-Newman University, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 20%Parks & recreation 16%Liberal arts 9%Education 8%Psychology 7%Biology 7%Everything else 33%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and Operations51 graduates a year
$65k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness47 graduates a year
$44k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing47 graduates a year
$71k4 yrs out
Psychology, General35 graduates a year
$38k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas15 graduates a year
$46k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods14 graduates a year
$42k4 yrs out
Religion/Religious Studies14 graduates a year
$43k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Jefferson City

Is Jefferson City a college town?

No. About 14 of every 100 Jefferson City residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Tennessee (5). The largest campus in the city, Carson-Newman University, has 1,900 students on campus.

What colleges are in Jefferson City?

Carson-Newman University is inside the city. Walters State Community College is 13.7 miles away in Morristown.

What is the closest community college to Jefferson City, and what does it cost?

Walters State Community College in Morristown, 13.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,752 a year for Tennessee residents; the federal net price, $5,387, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does The University of Tennessee-Knoxville cost if we live in Tennessee?

Tuition and fees are $13,812 a year in-state and $33,256 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,029 (under $30,000 income) to $25,688 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Jefferson City. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →