Best STEM Colleges in Tennessee

Tennessee is known for being the heart of country music, but it's also home to many esteemed colleges and universities. Many schools offer STEM programs, and several are STEM colleges with financial aid.

Tennessee is a great state for engineering students and also offers some of the top STEM degree programs in the U.S. in fields like agriculture and healthcare. Keep reading to discover the best STEM colleges in Tennessee.

Top STEM Colleges in Tennessee

There are several excellent colleges and universities in Tennessee with high-quality STEM programs. Below, we've featured the best colleges and universities in Tennessee for STEM.

1. Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University is a private research university in Nashville. It's the best engineering school in Tennessee as it researches several STEM fields, including healthcare, radiation, and mechatronics.

The university offers bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees in STEM fields such as:

• biochemistry and chemical biology
• earth and environmental sciences
• mechanical engineering
• neuroscience

The Opportunity Vanderbilt program offers full-tuition scholarships for students in households making less than $150,000 per year. Through this financial aid program, students could receive free STEM degrees online and in person.

2. University of Tennessee, Knoxville

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is a public research university in Knoxville. It's known for its aerospace engineering programs and forensic anthropology research.

Undergraduate and graduate STEM degrees at UTK include:

• aerospace engineering
• forensic anthropology
• computer science
• electrical engineering

3. Tennessee Technological University

Tennessee Technological University is a public research university in Cookeville, Tennessee. It conducts research into various STEM fields, including energy, manufacturing, sustainability, and cybersecurity.

Tennessee Tech primarily offers STEM degrees, with majors available in fields such as:

• computer engineering
• environmental and sustainability studies
• geosciences
• mechanical engineering

4. University of Memphis

The University of Memphis is a public research university in Memphis. It runs research facilities for STEM areas like geoscience, public health, technology, and archeology.

STEM degree programs at the University of Memphis include:

• earth science
• health sciences
• information technology
• mathematical science

The University of Memphis offers some of its STEM degrees online. As it's a public university, these are affordable online STEM degrees for in-state students.

5. Rhodes College

Rhodes College is a private liberal arts college in Memphis. It primarily offers undergraduate programs, although a handful of graduate programs are available.

Some students design their own degrees at Rhodes College, but many choose from pre-established majors. This includes STEM majors like:

• biochemistry and molecular biology
• computer science
• environmental science
• neuroscience

6. East Tennessee State University

East Tennessee State University is a public research university in Johnson City, Tennessee. It's home to many fantastic STEM programs, particularly in healthcare fields.

STEM fields at ETSU include:

• biomedical sciences
• geosciences
• nursing
• public health

7. Belmont University

Belmont University is a private Christian university in Nashville. It was originally a women's college but today offers degrees to both male and female students.

The university offers undergrad and grad programs in STEM fields like:

• biochemistry and molecular biology
• data science
• engineering physics
• mathematics

8. Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay State University is a public university in Clarksville, Tennessee. It offers on-campus and online programs and has a student body just shy of 10,000.

STEM academic programs at APSU include:

• agriculture
• computer science
• engineering technology
• nursing

9. Southern Adventist University

Southern Adventist University is a private Seventh-day Adventist university in Collegedale, Tennessee. It's a small college, with an enrollment of just under 3,000 students.

The university is popular for its biological and biomedical sciences programs, and it also offers other STEM programs like:

• cybersecurity
• health sciences
• mathematics
• medical science

10. Christian Brothers University

Christian Brothers University is a private Catholic university in Memphis. It offers small class sizes and a student body of less than 1,000.

STEM majors at CBU include:

• cognitive neuroscience
• computer science
• electrical engineering
• natural sciences

11. Lee University

Lee University is a private Christian university in Cleveland, Tennessee. It offers academic programs on campus and online.

While the university is primarily focused on biblical and ministry studies, it does offer a few STEM programs, like:

• behavioral and social sciences
• mathematical sciences
• nursing
• natural sciences

12. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a public university. It's another member of the University of Tennessee system.

STEM programs at UTC include:

• electrical engineering
• environmental science
• exercise and health sciences
• geology

13. Tennessee State University

Tennessee State University is a public, historically Black university in Nashville. Its engineering school has contracts with esteemed corporations like NASA and General Motors.

The university offers STEM majors such as:

• aeronautical technology
• computer science
• mechanical engineering
• public health

14. Middle Tennessee State University

Middle Tennessee State University is a public research university in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It's particularly well-known for its aerospace department.

STEM programs at MTSU include majors like:

• aeronautical science
• horse science
• mechatronics engineering
• molecular bioscience

15. University of Tennessee at Martin

The University of Tennessee at Martin is a public university in Martin, Tennessee. It conducts extensive research in agriculture on its experimental farm.

UTM offers STEM degrees in agriculture and fields such as:

• computer engineering
• ecology and environmental biology
• gerontology
• meteorology

FAQs About STEM Colleges in Tennessee

Below, we've answered some frequently asked questions about STEM colleges in Tennessee.

Is It Possible To Attend Tenessee Engineering Schools for Free?

It is possible to attend an engineering school in Tennessee for free with the right financial aid. As mentioned, Operation Vanderbilt covers tuition for eligible students, but grants and scholarships may cover your full tuition costs at other institutions as well.

Which Tennessee College Is Best for Computer Engineering?

U.S. News and World Report doesn't make its computer engineering rankings public. However, Vanderbilt leads for its engineering and computer science programs, followed in both categories by the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

How Do Tennessee STEM Colleges Compare Nationally?

STEM is a broad field, and it depends on what specialty within STEM you're looking at. For example, Vanderbilt is ranked 41st in engineering and UTK is ranked 53rd; in biological sciences, Vanderbilt is 25th, while in mathematics it's ranked 43rd.