Best Visual & Performing Arts Colleges in Tennessee
43 accredited institutions in Tennessee offering visual & performing arts programs, ranked by annual graduates (IPEDS 2023–24).
43
Colleges
6,978
Graduates/yr
17
Public
Bachelor's
Top Degree
Ranked: Visual & Performing Arts Programs in Tennessee
1
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Belmont University
Nashville
1,872
Graduates/yr
96%
Acceptance
$39,400
Tuition
72%
Grad Rate
$20,702
Net Price <$30K
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2
PublicBachelor's
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro
1,518
Graduates/yr
68%
Acceptance
$7,536
In-State Tuition
54%
Grad Rate
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3
PublicBachelor's
University of Memphis
Memphis
387
Graduates/yr
93%
Acceptance
$8,520
In-State Tuition
49%
Grad Rate
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4
PublicBachelor's
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville
360
Graduates/yr
46%
Acceptance
$11,332
In-State Tuition
73%
Grad Rate
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5
PublicBachelor's
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City
258
Graduates/yr
87%
Acceptance
$7,706
In-State Tuition
50%
Grad Rate
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6
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Lipscomb University
Nashville
258
Graduates/yr
67%
Acceptance
$35,848
Tuition
69%
Grad Rate
$22,112
Net Price <$30K
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7
PublicBachelor's
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga
225
Graduates/yr
77%
Acceptance
$8,232
In-State Tuition
53%
Grad Rate
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8
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Vanderbilt University
Nashville
207
Graduates/yr
6%
Acceptance
$61,618
Tuition
93%
Grad Rate
$7,451
Net Price <$30K
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9
PublicBachelor's
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville
204
Graduates/yr
96%
Acceptance
$7,008
In-State Tuition
43%
Grad Rate
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10
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Lee University
Cleveland
171
Graduates/yr
72%
Acceptance
$21,960
Tuition
61%
Grad Rate
$14,350
Net Price <$30K
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11
PublicAssociate's
Pellissippi State Community College
Knoxville
141
Graduates/yr
$4,224
In-State Tuition
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12
PublicBachelor's
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville
126
Graduates/yr
83%
Acceptance
$8,764
In-State Tuition
54%
Grad Rate
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13
PublicAssociate's
Chattanooga State Community College
Chattanooga
120
Graduates/yr
$4,224
In-State Tuition
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14
PublicAssociate's
Volunteer State Community College
Gallatin
99
Graduates/yr
$4,224
In-State Tuition
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15
PublicBachelor's
The University of Tennessee-Martin
Martin
99
Graduates/yr
87%
Acceptance
$8,546
In-State Tuition
55%
Grad Rate
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16
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson
90
Graduates/yr
91%
Acceptance
$25,000
Tuition
68%
Grad Rate
$14,395
Net Price <$30K
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17
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Trevecca Nazarene University
Nashville
72
Graduates/yr
70%
Acceptance
$28,590
Tuition
54%
Grad Rate
$12,892
Net Price <$30K
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18
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Carson-Newman University
Jefferson City
72
Graduates/yr
68%
Acceptance
$32,900
Tuition
47%
Grad Rate
$14,884
Net Price <$30K
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19
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Bethel University
McKenzie
69
Graduates/yr
97%
Acceptance
$16,870
Tuition
0%
Grad Rate
$13,705
Net Price <$30K
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20
Private NonprofitBachelor's
The University of the South
Sewanee
69
Graduates/yr
51%
Acceptance
$53,418
Tuition
82%
Grad Rate
$11,650
Net Price <$30K
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21
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Southern Adventist University
Collegedale
63
Graduates/yr
67%
Acceptance
$24,350
Tuition
62%
Grad Rate
$17,953
Net Price <$30K
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22
PublicAssociate's
Southwest Tennessee Community College
Memphis
60
Graduates/yr
$4,224
In-State Tuition
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23
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Union University
Jackson
57
Graduates/yr
47%
Acceptance
$19,476
Tuition
71%
Grad Rate
$25,522
Net Price <$30K
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24
PublicBachelor's
Tennessee State University
Nashville
51
Graduates/yr
93%
Acceptance
$7,320
In-State Tuition
34%
Grad Rate
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25
PublicAssociate's
Nashville State Community College
Nashville
48
Graduates/yr
$4,224
In-State Tuition
View →
26
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Christian Brothers University
Memphis
42
Graduates/yr
88%
Acceptance
$37,300
Tuition
56%
Grad Rate
$10,835
Net Price <$30K
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27
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Rhodes College
Memphis
42
Graduates/yr
50%
Acceptance
$54,082
Tuition
82%
Grad Rate
$11,115
Net Price <$30K
View →
28
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Milligan University
Milligan
27
Graduates/yr
70%
Acceptance
$37,700
Tuition
60%
Grad Rate
$12,310
Net Price <$30K
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29
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Cumberland University
Lebanon
24
Graduates/yr
67%
Acceptance
$26,640
Tuition
42%
Grad Rate
$18,531
Net Price <$30K
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30
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Le Moyne-Owen College
Memphis
21
Graduates/yr
97%
Acceptance
$10,776
Tuition
25%
Grad Rate
$9,439
Net Price <$30K
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31
PublicAssociate's
Walters State Community College
Morristown
18
Graduates/yr
$4,224
In-State Tuition
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32
PublicAssociate's
Motlow State Community College
Tullahoma
15
Graduates/yr
$4,224
In-State Tuition
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33
Private NonprofitBachelor's
King University
Bristol
15
Graduates/yr
54%
Acceptance
$32,902
Tuition
47%
Grad Rate
$22,559
Net Price <$30K
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34
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Lane College
Jackson
12
Graduates/yr
$9,270
Tuition
17%
Grad Rate
$13,672
Net Price <$30K
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35
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Bryan College-Dayton
Dayton
12
Graduates/yr
$18,300
Tuition
54%
Grad Rate
$12,542
Net Price <$30K
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36
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Tusculum University
Greeneville
9
Graduates/yr
60%
Acceptance
$27,500
Tuition
31%
Grad Rate
$18,552
Net Price <$30K
View →
37
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Tennessee Wesleyan University
Athens
9
Graduates/yr
59%
Acceptance
$28,014
Tuition
44%
Grad Rate
$11,805
Net Price <$30K
View →
38
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Fisk University
Nashville
9
Graduates/yr
58%
Acceptance
$22,320
Tuition
44%
Grad Rate
$28,980
Net Price <$30K
View →
39
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Johnson University
Knoxville
6
Graduates/yr
54%
Acceptance
$18,428
Tuition
63%
Grad Rate
$16,064
Net Price <$30K
View →
40
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Welch College
Gallatin
6
Graduates/yr
$20,796
Tuition
58%
Grad Rate
$15,966
Net Price <$30K
View →
41
PublicAssociate's
Cleveland State Community College
Cleveland
6
Graduates/yr
$4,224
In-State Tuition
View →
42
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Maryville College
Maryville
6
Graduates/yr
66%
Acceptance
$37,618
Tuition
47%
Grad Rate
$15,645
Net Price <$30K
View →
43
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Lincoln Memorial University
Harrogate
3
Graduates/yr
59%
Acceptance
$25,680
Tuition
50%
Grad Rate
$16,664
Net Price <$30K
View →
Studying Visual & Performing Arts in Tennessee
Tennessee has 43 accredited colleges offering visual & performing arts programs, producing 6,978 graduates annually. Of these, 17 are public institutions with subsidized in-state tuition for Tennessee residents.
When evaluating programs, consider accreditation, internship placement rates, and faculty expertise. Always file the FAFSA — the net price after grants can be dramatically lower than sticker tuition, especially at public institutions.
Other Programs in Tennessee
Communications TechnologyComputer SciencePersonal & Culinary ServicesEducationEngineeringEngineering TechnologyForeign LanguagesFamily & Consumer SciencesLegal Studies / Pre-LawEnglishLiberal ArtsLibrary ScienceBiologyMathematics & StatisticsMilitary ScienceInterdisciplinary StudiesParks & RecreationPhilosophy & Religious StudiesTheology & MinistryPhysical Sciences
Data source: Graduate counts from IPEDS 2023–24 C2023_A Completions survey (NCES). Tuition, acceptance rate, and graduation rate from IPEDS HD2023, ADM2023, DRVGR2023.