Memphis is home to 13 colleges, with about 31,000 students on campus
The University of Memphis (16,642 students on campus) and Southwest Tennessee Community College (4,503) are inside the city. About 5% of Memphis’ residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Tennessee (5%).
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 Memphis. Colleges are described, not graded.
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. Pick your family’s income.
Family income
Starts at $48–75k, where Memphis’ median household income ($51,736) falls.
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 within 15 miles of Memphis: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
University of Memphis51% graduate$48k earnings$23k typical debt
Southwest Tennessee Community College19% graduate$34k earnings
Christian Brothers University55% graduate$57k earnings$27k typical debt
Visible Music College23% graduate$36k earnings$10k typical debt
Concorde Career College-Southaven65% graduate$32k earnings*$10k 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. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Remington College-Memphis Campus (12); Concorde Career College-Memphis (2); Concorde Career College-Southaven (2).
Majors
What students study in Memphis
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Memphis’ 11 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Health professions 20%Business 15%Liberal arts 12%Parks & recreation 7%Psychology 4%Engineering 4%Everything else 38%
Biggest programs
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesSouthwest Tennessee Community College · 558 graduates a year
$36k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessUniversity of Memphis · 424 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingUniversity of Memphis · 293 graduates a year
$75k4 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherUniversity of Memphis · 221 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralUniversity of Memphis · 188 graduates a year
$46k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsUniversity of Memphis · 136 graduates a year
$65k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBaptist Health Sciences University · 123 graduates a year
$82k4 yrs out
Accounting and Related ServicesUniversity of Memphis · 110 graduates a year
$71k4 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 Memphis
Is Memphis a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Memphis residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Tennessee (5). The largest campus in the city, the University of Memphis, has 16,642 students on campus.
What colleges are in Memphis?
The University of Memphis, Southwest Tennessee Community College, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Christian Brothers University and 9 more are inside the city.
What is the closest community college to Memphis, and what does it cost?
Remington College-Memphis Campus in Memphis, 2.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $17,083 a year for Tennessee residents; the federal net price, $26,572, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of Memphis cost if we live in Tennessee?
Tuition and fees are $10,728 a year in-state and $15,384 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,607 (under $30,000 income) to $18,691 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
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 Memphis. 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 →
Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0