Memphis, Tennessee Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Memphis, Tennessee shows: median public in-state tuition $13,858 (+151.4% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $57,478 (+5.8% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 89.5% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $13,271 (-1.2% vs U.S.) 27,349 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 24 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 27,349 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $13,858 (+151.4% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $57,478 (+5.8% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 89.5% (+1.5 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $13,413 (+34.6% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $13,271 (-1.2% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $14,173
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 45.3%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 76.1%
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Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Memphis, Tennessee—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against 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 | $13,858 | $13,413 | $13,271 | 45.3% | 27,349 |
| Tennessee (state median) | $4,998 | $7,802 | $14,825 | 49.8% | 245,429 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
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 | $57,478 | 89.5% | 76.1% | 7.7% | — | 67.9% | 0.47 |
| Tennessee (state median) | $48,480 | 90.5% | 74.9% | 6.3% | — | 71.2% | 0.45 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 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 | $13,858 | $13,413 | $13,271 | 45.3% | 27,349 | $57,478 | 89.5% |
| Knoxville | $16,174 | $18,976 | $18,668 | 56.8% | 47,906 | $50,422 | 89.4% |
| Nashville | $17,281 | $24,044 | $16,334 | 41.8% | 37,311 | $49,378 | 88.0% |
| Chattanooga | $10,448 | $14,265 | $13,168 | 50.2% | 20,266 | $51,151 | 91.9% |
| Murfreesboro | $10,266 | $12,408 | $13,958 | 53.7% | 17,237 | $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 | $14,232 | 40.2% | 7,722 | $44,301 | 85.7% |
| Jackson | $11,790 | $10,904 | $20,714 | 42.2% | 5,490 | $42,830 | 91.7% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
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 10 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
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Rank 6, Graduation Rate, 0.0%, Strayer University-Tennessee
Strayer University-Tennessee
Top 10 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
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Rank 6, Employment Outcome, 81.1%, Strayer University-Tennessee
Strayer University-Tennessee
Top 10 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
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Rank 5, Admission Rate, 99.2%, Le Moyne-Owen College
Le Moyne-Owen College
Top 10 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, $81,061, Strayer University-Tennessee
Strayer University-Tennessee
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $74,962, Baptist Health Sciences University
Baptist Health Sciences University
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $73,680, University of Memphis
University of Memphis
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Rank 4, Entry-Level Earnings, $71,112, Christian Brothers University
Christian Brothers University
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Rank 5, Entry-Level Earnings, $70,619, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
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Rank 6, Entry-Level Earnings, $60,225, Rhodes College
Rhodes College
Top 10 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, $105,703, Strayer University-Tennessee
Strayer University-Tennessee
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $92,007, Christian Brothers University
Christian Brothers University
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $90,207, University of Memphis
University of Memphis
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Rank 4, Early-Career Earnings, $82,950, Rhodes College
Rhodes College
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Rank 5, Early-Career Earnings, $82,135, Baptist Health Sciences University
Baptist Health Sciences University
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Rank 6, Early-Career Earnings, $80,055, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Top 10 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, $36,582, Strayer University-Tennessee
Strayer University-Tennessee
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Rank 6, Mid-Career Earnings, $25,992, Le Moyne-Owen College
Le Moyne-Owen College
Top 10 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, $37,064, Strayer University-Tennessee
Strayer University-Tennessee
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Rank 6, 8-Yr Earnings, $32,112, Le Moyne-Owen College
Le Moyne-Owen College
Top 10 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, $40,092, Strayer University-Tennessee
Strayer University-Tennessee
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Rank 6, 10-Yr Earnings, $35,594, Le Moyne-Owen College
Le Moyne-Owen College
Top 10 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, $257,846, Baptist Health Sciences University
Baptist Health Sciences University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $205,781, Christian Brothers University
Christian Brothers University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $177,494, Rhodes College
Rhodes College
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $156,332, University of Memphis
University of Memphis
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $111,643, Le Moyne-Owen College
Le Moyne-Owen College
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $96,809, Strayer University-Tennessee
Strayer University-Tennessee
Top 10 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, $11,645, Strayer University-Tennessee
Strayer University-Tennessee
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Rank 5, Net Price, $12,397, University of Memphis
University of Memphis
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Rank 6, Net Price, $28,585, Rhodes College
Rhodes College
Top 10 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, 100.0%, Strayer University-Tennessee
Strayer University-Tennessee
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 92.3%, Rhodes College
Rhodes College
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 77.4%, University of Memphis
University of Memphis
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Rank 4, First-Year Retention, 74.9%, Christian Brothers University
Christian Brothers University
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Rank 5, First-Year Retention, 52.6%, Baptist Health Sciences University
Baptist Health Sciences University
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Rank 6, 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 $13,858, +151.4% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Memphis, Tennessee vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Memphis, Tennessee is $13,271 (-1.2% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $14,173.
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 $57,478 (+5.8% 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 89.5% at the median Memphis, Tennessee campus (+1.5 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 $13,858, about +151.4% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +177.6%.
Median graduate debt is $13,271 (-1.2% below the U.S. median of $13,432). 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 $57,478, about +5.8% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 89.5% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (+1.5 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 76.1% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 7.7% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 67.9% (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%), Strayer University-Tennessee (81.1%)—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 45.3% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Memphis?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 24 campuses in Memphis, Tennessee with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Memphis?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Memphis is $13,858 and median net price is $13,413. For Tennessee overall, medians are $4,998 and $7,802; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Memphis?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Memphis is $57,478 vs $48,480 for Tennessee and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Memphis colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Memphis is $13,271 vs $14,825 for Tennessee and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Memphis?
EDsmart Data analysis: 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?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 24 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