Hermitage Hotel · Photo: Andrew Jameson · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Nashville
Nashville is home to 16 colleges, with about 48,000 students on campus
Vanderbilt University (12,817 students on campus) and Belmont University (8,737) are inside the town. About 7% of Nashville’s residents are enrolled in college, above 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 Nashville. Colleges are described, not graded.
Within 15 miles
16
48,412 students on campus
Nearest college
0.6 mi
Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus
Residents in college
7%
Above TN (5%)
Nearest community college
4.7 mi
Nashville State · $4,730 tuition
Nearest public university
2.4 mi
Tennessee State · $8,616 in-state
Median household income
$78K
prices below start here
What stands out about college in Nashville
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
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 $75–110k, where Nashville’s median household income ($77,853) 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 Nashville: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Nossi College of Art and Design42% graduate$35k earnings$33k 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: Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville (8); Remington College-Nashville Campus (12); Fortis Institute-Nashville (4).
Majors
What students study in Nashville
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Nashville’s 14 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Health professions 14%Visual & performing arts 11%Business 10%Liberal arts 9%Social sciences 6%Communications tech 6%Everything else 45%
Biggest programs
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNashville State Community College · 451 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Arts, Entertainment, and Media ManagementBelmont University · 410 graduates a year
$54k4 yrs out
Social Sciences, GeneralVanderbilt University · 302 graduates a year
$103k4 yrs out
EconomicsVanderbilt University · 286 graduates a year
$140k4 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherVanderbilt University · 263 graduates a year
$87k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBelmont University · 205 graduates a year
$79k4 yrs out
Computer ScienceVanderbilt University · 198 graduates a year
$160k4 yrs out
MathematicsVanderbilt University · 157 graduates a year
$141k4 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 Nashville
Is Nashville a college town?
No. About 7 of every 100 Nashville residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Tennessee (5). The largest campus in the town, Vanderbilt University, has 12,817 students on campus.
What colleges are in Nashville?
Vanderbilt University, Belmont University, Tennessee State University, Nashville State Community College and 12 more are inside the town.
What is the closest community college to Nashville, and what does it cost?
Nashville State Community College in Nashville, 4.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,730 a year for Tennessee residents; the federal net price, $6,777, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Tennessee State University cost if we live in Tennessee?
Tuition and fees are $8,616 a year in-state and $22,416 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $15,005 (under $30,000 income) to $20,099 (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 Nashville. 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 →
Hermitage Hotel · Photo: Andrew Jameson · CC BY-SA 3.0