The University of Tennessee -Knoxville and Tennessee Tech University have tied for the top spot among all public universities in the state, according to Money’s 2025 “Best Colleges in the U.S.” ratings.
Money explains that colleges and universities were rated on the quality of education, affordability and outcomes. From there, each qualifying institution – including 18 in Tennessee – was rated on a five-star scale. UTK and Tech each earned four-star ratings, tying as the top-rated public universities in Tennessee.
Other ranked public universities in the state included EastTennessee State University and the University of Memphis, both earning 3.5 stars. When private institutions are also considered, only Vanderbilt University and King University earned four-star ratings.
Tennessee Tech also had the lowest 2025-2026 estimated “full price” for attendance – inclusive of tuition, fees, room, board, books, travel and other miscellaneous costs – of all ranked institutions in Tennessee.
According to Money, this year’s “Best College” list, “offers a practical analysis of more than 700 four-year colleges, focusing on affordability and student outcomes to help families make informed decisions about where to spend their tuition dollars.”See Money’s full 2025 “Best Colleges in America” ratings at https://money.com/best-colleges/
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