Best colleges for biology in Tennessee
The University of Tennessee-Martin ranks first in Tennessee for biology value (#95 nationally, value score 70.1): graduates earn $63,410 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $10,211 a year.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition · Source: College Scorecard field of study, reporting year 2025 · 14 Tennessee colleges ranked · Updated November 4, 2026
Best biology colleges in Tennessee
The University of Tennessee-Martin ranks first in Tennessee for biology value (#95 nationally, value score 70.1): graduates earn $63,410 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $10,211 a year. 14 Tennessee colleges qualify. At the median one, biology graduates earn $54,375 and the average net price is $15,928 a year.
Source: U.S. College Scorecard field of study, 2025
What the data shows
Key findings
- 14 Tennessee colleges qualify. At the median one, biology graduates earn $54,375 and the average net price is $15,928 a year.
- The highest biology earnings in the state are at Belmont University ($63,792), ranked #2 in the state once cost, debt and graduation rate count.
- The lowest average net price among them is at Austin Peay State University: $9,049 a year.
- Median earnings
- $54,375
- National: $58,001
- Median net price
- $15,928
- National: $18,049
- Median federal debt
- $18,613
- biology graduates
- Public colleges
- 9 of 14
- in this list
14 colleges
The Tennessee ranking
Ordered by the national value score; the national rank is shown with each college. Earnings are medians 4 years after the bachelor's degree.
- Earnings
- $63,410
- Net price
- $10,211
- Federal debt
- $19,500
- Graduation rate
- 51%
- Earnings
- $63,792
- Net price
- $32,648
- Federal debt
- $18,250
- Graduation rate
- 71%
- Rank in Tennessee 3
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN · Public · #248 nationally
58.2Value- Earnings
- $56,659
- Net price
- $12,562
- Federal debt
- $16,838
- Graduation rate
- 54%
- Earnings
- $59,855
- Net price
- $12,154
- Federal debt
- $19,276
- Graduation rate
- 34%
- Rank in Tennessee 5
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · Public · #273 nationally
55.9Value- Earnings
- $58,149
- Net price
- $18,314
- Federal debt
- $19,750
- Graduation rate
- 74%
- Rank in Tennessee 6
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN · Public · #291 nationally
54.8Value- Earnings
- $57,167
- Net price
- $14,208
- Federal debt
- $18,875
- Graduation rate
- 55%
- Earnings
- $53,784
- Net price
- $12,192
- Federal debt
- $18,350
- Graduation rate
- 53%
- Earnings
- $54,965
- Net price
- $23,178
- Federal debt
- $16,750
- Graduation rate
- 71%
- Earnings
- $48,991
- Net price
- $9,049
- Federal debt
- $16,028
- Graduation rate
- 42%
- Rank in Tennessee 10
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN · Public · #466 nationally
40.1Value- Earnings
- $49,220
- Net price
- $16,830
- Federal debt
- $15,199
- Graduation rate
- 56%
- Rank in Tennessee 11
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · Public · #491 nationally
38.5Value- Earnings
- $50,597
- Net price
- $15,026
- Federal debt
- $19,500
- Graduation rate
- 56%
- Earnings
- $50,036
- Net price
- $28,776
- Federal debt
- $19,625
- Graduation rate
- 81%
- Rank in Tennessee 13
The University of the South Sewanee
Sewanee, TN · Private nonprofit · #570 nationally
31.7Value- Earnings
- $47,695
- Net price
- $31,931
- Federal debt
- $15,875
- Graduation rate
- 79%
- Earnings
- $50,768
- Net price
- $37,143
- Federal debt
- $24,250
- Graduation rate
- 40%
Method: the same value score as the national biology ranking (earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate, each a national percentile). Data: College Scorecard, reporting year 2025; 2026–27 edition, verified Nov 2026.
Questions about biology colleges in Tennessee
What are the best colleges for biology in Tennessee?
By CollegesRef value score, the top 3 Tennessee colleges for biology are The University of Tennessee-Martin (value score 70.1), Belmont University (value score 59.1) and Middle Tennessee State University (value score 58.2). The score weighs graduate earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate.
Which Tennessee college has the highest earnings for biology graduates?
Belmont University: its biology graduates have median earnings of $63,792 4 years after the bachelor's degree.
What is the most affordable biology college in Tennessee on this list?
Austin Peay State University has the lowest average net price of the ranked Tennessee colleges, $9,049 a year after grants. A family's own price depends on income and aid.
How many Tennessee colleges are ranked for biology?
14 Tennessee colleges have a biology bachelor's program with enough graduates and reported earnings, plus a published net price and graduation rate. Ranks shown are national; the state rank is their order within Tennessee.