Memphis, Tennessee Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Memphis, Tennessee: median public in-state tuition $13,796 (+150.3% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $61,898 (+13.8% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 90.0% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $12,886 (-2.9% vs U.S.) 25,565 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 23 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 25,565 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $13,796 (+150.3% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $61,898 (+13.8% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 90.0% (+2.0 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $14,315 (+43.6% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $12,886 (-2.9% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,456
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 50.9%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 74.9%
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Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Memphis serve students across Tennessee with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 23 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 25,565 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $13,796. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Memphis, Tennessee and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Memphis vs Tennessee & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, Tennessee | $13,796 | $14,315 | $12,886 | 50.9% | 25,565 |
| Tennessee (state median) | $4,998 | $7,802 | $15,784 | 50.0% | 245,221 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Memphis, Tennessee vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, Tennessee | $61,898 | 90.0% | 74.9% | 5.2% | — | 69.5% | 0.44 |
| Tennessee (state median) | $48,480 | 90.5% | 74.9% | 6.3% | — | 71.2% | 0.45 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Tennessee (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, Tennessee | $13,796 | $14,315 | $12,886 | 50.9% | 25,565 | $61,898 | 90.0% |
| Knoxville | $16,174 | $18,976 | $18,668 | 56.8% | 47,906 | $50,422 | 89.4% |
| Nashville | $17,048 | $22,290 | $18,668 | 41.8% | 39,095 | $47,416 | 88.0% |
| Chattanooga | $10,448 | $14,265 | $13,168 | 50.2% | 20,266 | $51,151 | 91.9% |
| Murfreesboro | $10,266 | $13,359 | $13,958 | 53.7% | 17,211 | $48,541 | 89.5% |
| Johnson City | $10,472 | $15,983 | $9,500 | 53.2% | 10,191 | $44,859 | 88.7% |
| Cookeville | $13,248 | $16,597 | $13,000 | 57.7% | 9,352 | $48,501 | 92.0% |
| Clarksville | $9,006 | $9,989 | $20,547 | 40.2% | 7,722 | $44,301 | 85.7% |
| Gallatin | $13,078 | $16,532 | $13,525 | 53.4% | 5,565 | $42,198 | 91.3% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Outcomes by sector in Memphis, Tennessee
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private nonprofit | 4 | $62,064 | 90.9% | 63.7% | 4.3% | — | 71.1% |
Top 5 colleges in Memphis, Tennessee by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 84.5%, Rhodes College
Rhodes College
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 54.7%, Christian Brothers University
Christian Brothers University
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 50.9%, University of Memphis
University of Memphis
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Rank 4, Graduation Rate, 39.8%, Baptist Health Sciences University
Baptist Health Sciences University
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Rank 5, Graduation Rate, 27.0%, Le Moyne-Owen College
Le Moyne-Owen College
Top 5 colleges in Memphis, Tennessee by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 93.9%, Baptist Health Sciences University
Baptist Health Sciences University
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 92.4%, Christian Brothers University
Christian Brothers University
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 90.4%, University of Memphis
University of Memphis
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 89.5%, Le Moyne-Owen College
Le Moyne-Owen College
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 87.8%, Rhodes College
Rhodes College
Top 5 most selective colleges in Memphis, Tennessee (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 50.3%, Rhodes College
Rhodes College
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 72.0%, University of Memphis
University of Memphis
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Rank 3, Admission Rate, 82.0%, Baptist Health Sciences University
Baptist Health Sciences University
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Rank 4, Admission Rate, 86.7%, Christian Brothers University
Christian Brothers University
-
Rank 5, Admission Rate, 99.2%, Le Moyne-Owen College
Le Moyne-Owen College
Top 5 colleges in Memphis, Tennessee by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $74,962, Baptist Health Sciences University
Baptist Health Sciences University
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $73,680, University of Memphis
University of Memphis
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $71,112, Christian Brothers University
Christian Brothers University
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Rank 4, Entry-Level Earnings, $70,619, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
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Rank 5, Entry-Level Earnings, $60,225, Rhodes College
Rhodes College
Top 5 colleges in Memphis, Tennessee by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $92,007, Christian Brothers University
Christian Brothers University
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $90,207, University of Memphis
University of Memphis
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $82,950, Rhodes College
Rhodes College
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Rank 4, Early-Career Earnings, $82,135, Baptist Health Sciences University
Baptist Health Sciences University
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Rank 5, Early-Career Earnings, $80,055, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Top 5 colleges in Memphis, Tennessee by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $59,224, Baptist Health Sciences University
Baptist Health Sciences University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $48,898, Rhodes College
Rhodes College
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $48,592, Christian Brothers University
Christian Brothers University
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $40,921, University of Memphis
University of Memphis
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $25,992, Le Moyne-Owen College
Le Moyne-Owen College
Top 5 colleges in Memphis, Tennessee by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $64,735, Rhodes College
Rhodes College
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $63,611, Baptist Health Sciences University
Baptist Health Sciences University
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $50,578, Christian Brothers University
Christian Brothers University
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $44,264, University of Memphis
University of Memphis
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $32,112, Le Moyne-Owen College
Le Moyne-Owen College
Top 5 colleges in Memphis, Tennessee by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $72,529, Baptist Health Sciences University
Baptist Health Sciences University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $66,651, Rhodes College
Rhodes College
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $57,478, Christian Brothers University
Christian Brothers University
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $48,458, University of Memphis
University of Memphis
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $35,594, Le Moyne-Owen College
Le Moyne-Owen College
Top 5 colleges in Memphis, Tennessee by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $268,792, Baptist Health Sciences University
Baptist Health Sciences University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $210,991, Christian Brothers University
Christian Brothers University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $160,612, University of Memphis
University of Memphis
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $159,868, Rhodes College
Rhodes College
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $121,108, Le Moyne-Owen College
Le Moyne-Owen College
Top 5 most affordable colleges in Memphis, Tennessee (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $7,099, Le Moyne-Owen College
Le Moyne-Owen College
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Rank 2, Net Price, $9,854, Christian Brothers University
Christian Brothers University
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Rank 3, Net Price, $11,212, Baptist Health Sciences University
Baptist Health Sciences University
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Rank 4, Net Price, $12,397, University of Memphis
University of Memphis
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Rank 5, Net Price, $28,585, Rhodes College
Rhodes College
Top 5 colleges in Memphis, Tennessee by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 92.3%, Rhodes College
Rhodes College
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 77.4%, University of Memphis
University of Memphis
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 74.9%, Christian Brothers University
Christian Brothers University
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Rank 4, First-Year Retention, 52.6%, Baptist Health Sciences University
Baptist Health Sciences University
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Rank 5, First-Year Retention, 47.2%, Le Moyne-Owen College
Le Moyne-Owen College
In-state tuition: Memphis, Tennessee vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Memphis, Tennessee median in-state tuition is $13,796, +150.3% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Memphis, Tennessee vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Memphis, Tennessee is $12,886 (-2.9% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.
Median earnings (10 years out): Memphis, Tennessee vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Memphis, Tennessee center around $61,898 (+13.8% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Memphis, Tennessee vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 90.0% at the median Memphis, Tennessee campus (+2.0 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Memphis, Tennessee median public in-state tuition is $13,796, about +150.3% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +176.4%.
Median graduate debt is $12,886 (-2.9% below the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Memphis, Tennessee are $61,898, about +13.8% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 90.0% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+2.0 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 74.9% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 5.2% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 69.5% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Baptist Health Sciences University (93.9%), Christian Brothers University (92.4%), University of Memphis (90.4%), Le Moyne-Owen College (89.5%), Rhodes College (87.8%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Memphis, Tennessee, sector medians diverge: Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $62,064 (4 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Memphis, Tennessee is 50.9% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Memphis?
This city profile covers 23 campuses in Memphis, Tennessee with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Memphis?
Median in-state tuition in Memphis is $13,796 and median net price is $14,315. For Tennessee overall, medians are $4,998 and $7,802; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Memphis?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Memphis is $61,898 vs $48,480 for Tennessee and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Memphis colleges?
Median completer debt in Memphis is $12,886 vs $15,784 for Tennessee and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Memphis?
Top campuses on this page include Rhodes College (graduation) and Baptist Health Sciences University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Memphis?
Among 23 campuses in Memphis, Tennessee, 1 historically Black college or university (HBCU, IPEDS HBCU flag), including Le Moyne-Owen College; 1 campus with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Mid-South Christian College; 7 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Baptist (1), Roman Catholic (1), Multiple Protestant Denomination (1).
Sources & related
- Tennessee college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON