Cost of college in Tennessee
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Tennessee averages $11,317 a year, or $14,983 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $50,992 and owe about $20,469. The net price pays back in about 6.5 years.
How Tennessee compares to the US
Tennessee ranks #18 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #36 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #41 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Tennessee | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $11,317 | $9,518 | +$1,799 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $23,505 | $23,652 | -$147 |
| Net price after aid | $14,983 | $13,788 | +$1,195 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $50,992 | $56,427 | -$5,435 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,469 | $17,856 | +$2,613 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Tennessee pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Tennessee costs about $59,932 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 6.5 years from the roughly $9,192-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #41 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Tennessee list about $38,776 in tuition and net out to about $21,988 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Tennessee?
At a public 4-year college in Tennessee, in-state tuition and fees average about $11,317 a year and out-of-state runs about $23,505. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $14,983. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Tennessee earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Tennessee's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $50,992 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $20,469 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Tennessee?
A public 4-year degree in Tennessee costs about $59,932 over four years at net price and recoups in about 6.5 years from the roughly $9,192-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.