2024 Best Colleges for Political Science in Tennessee

• Nashville, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  1,342 reviews

Alum: I graduated summa cum laude from Vanderbilt University in 2021 with a Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience. I primarily chose to attend Vandy for its academic prowess, and it definitely lived up to that reputation. In retrospect, I loved the majority of my STEM classes, and I find that my education was well-rounded because of my required liberal arts classes. The campus is beautiful, the food is relatively good, and on-campus housing is average. Admittedly, I was excited to live off-campus for my last two years (but beware - living in Nashville is not cheap). Socially, I had a great time at Vandy, especially thanks to the liveliness of Nashville, but sadly not due to Vanderbilt sports - this is not their strong suit. I met lifelong friends at this school! Realistically, however, many students do come from wealthy backgrounds, which can be off-putting at times. Ultimately, while undeniably expensive, Vanderbilt is a great school that will certainly work to your advantage after graduation.... Read 1,342 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 7%

• Net price $27,553

• SAT range 1480-1570

• Sewanee, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.72 out of 5  449 reviews

Junior: Sewanee offers a magical experience with academic excellence and a close-knit community. Professors are dedicated, small classes encourage in-depth learning opportunities, and the campus is breathtaking. A transformative and enriching journey awaits every student here. It blends academic rigor with a strong sense of community, imbuing its students with the skills and values necessary to thrive in both their personal and professional lives. The Alumni network is insane, they are so willing to lend a hand in whatever you need! My journey at Sewanee has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I wholeheartedly recommend this remarkable institution to any aspiring student seeking an exceptional college experience.... Read 449 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 60%

• Net price $29,626

• SAT range 1200-1390

• Memphis, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  669 reviews

Alum: To begin, the size of Rhodes College is ideal for getting to know many other students, especially of other graduation years. The campus has beautiful buildings (though some are better on the outside), and the location next to a large forest is especially beautiful in fall. Memphis has a lot of culture and history to provide too. The weather is pretty nice during the school year, and strong greek life means there are a lot of opportunities to go out. An added benefit is that even though greek life is strongly present, it didn't feel weird to not be a part of it and yet still go to the parties because it's about half- half. I'm thankful for my time there, for my small class sizes, and for some of the best educators I've experienced. The science departments offer plenty of research opportunities and study abroad is encouraged! Go Lynx!... Read 669 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 57%

• Net price $30,525

• SAT range 1330-1490

• Knoxville, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  3,934 reviews

Sophomore: I think that many are drawn to UTK because it is a large public campus and campus/football life is exciting for them. I, however, was never interested much in campus/football life and I actually discovered when I came here that I would have preferred a smaller campus with more intimate classroom settings and more general desire to learn and grow (vs. party and football). Freshman year was "ehh" for me because I was in HUGE lecture hall classes and the course content was relatively easy and my classmates didn't seem to care about learning. Luckily, my sophomore year and even a couple classes second semester freshman year were much smaller since I was getting into the more niche subject areas. The French Department here is filled with fun professors! I would like to maybe see even more care of students by the nursing college though. I feel like these first two years we are somewhat disconnected from the nursing faculty since we are not in the upper division courses yet.... Read 3,934 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 75%

• Net price $21,512

• SAT range 1170-1340

• Memphis, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  2,223 reviews

Freshman: I love being a Tiger. The community of students, faculty, and alumni is full of spirit! Every professor I've had so far has been amazing. My history professor, for example, sent me a message saying she was proud of me. All of my professors have been really understanding of any mistakes I've made, too. They're also usually willing to admit to their own mistakes. As someone who was homeschooled and had trouble with math, I was so scared. I was terrified that I would do well, and I would end up with a bad GPA. However, I have a 92% in Algebra and an overall 3.7 GPA! This was definitely the best school for me.... Read 2,223 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 95%

• Net price $14,251

• SAT range 990-1200

• Jackson, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  681 reviews

Freshman: I absolutely love my school! At Union, the students are surrounded by loving professors, caring peers, and strong academic challenges! Union's core values are Future Directed, People Focused, Excellence Driven, and Christ Centered and this university truly embodies those values! I love how connected the professors are with the students. They make every individual feel like a part of their own family! One thing I wish would change would be accessibility to scholarships.... Read 681 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 53%

• Net price $27,660

• SAT range 1120-1330

• Murfreesboro, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.66 out of 5  3,479 reviews

Freshman: The MTSU experience has been phenomenal so far, and I love the dining hall! The food is always good quality and the staff is always friendly and nice, my professors care about education and they care about my personal educational journey. One thing I would change about the college however is expanding the on campus therapy available to students. The amount of other utilities that the campus provides in the rec center, pharmacy, and clinic are immense and the amount of food options and entertainment are enormous, but the attempt to focus on mental health is very thin. The therapy center is very tiny and only offers two sessions. They also aren't really all that good at dealing with really serious stuff. To be honest, I would pay extra for convenient and safe mental healthcare if it was provided at this institution. Other than that, no complaints really.... Read 3,479 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 68%

• Net price $12,617

• SAT range 1010-1210

• Nashville, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  842 reviews

Junior: The professors are very kind, and they try their best to make you feel comfortable in the classroom. There will be times where your professors will sit down with you to have coffee, others will invite the entire class for lunch at their house! It gives you a chance to bond and really connect with the professor. A lot of the courses are challenging, but Lipscomb has a lot of great programs that help with those challenging courses. The labs are very interactive, and truly the best experience at Lipscomb. It teaches you material that you'll need later on in your career. Overall, Lipscomb is very worth it!... Read 842 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 74%

• Net price $26,614

• SAT range 1100-1270

• Nashville, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.52 out of 5  521 reviews

Freshman: Fisk creates a gratifying learning experience for all of its students. Teachers are knowledgeable in their field of study, and the upperclassmen are incredibly caring and show us, underclassmen, a lot of support for adjusting to the new environment. It is said that Fisk is a family, and I agree entirely. Everyone wants the best for you and for you to achieve your goals. Students and staff have unconditional love. My only issue are the financial aid office, in that some staff there are not the most helpful with adding money into your account, making things a bit tense. But overall, I have truly enjoyed my time at Fisk, made wonderful connections with teachers, staff and students there, I cannot wait to return next semester and the years to come!... Read 521 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 61%

• Net price $25,582

• SAT range 1060-1360

• Cookeville, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  1,138 reviews

Junior: My over all experience with Tennessee Tech is really good because I have a lot of friends here and academics are pretty good, and the programs are really good. What they need to improve on is all of the construction we have at the school and the dorm situations because they have accepted so many freshmen that there is barely enough space for the upperclassman and if they are going to accept so many freshmen at least build more housing first. Also, I think the food choices here could have more options other than Chick fil A, Witch Witch, or Tu' Taco and the cafeteria is not bad but not the best. What I also like about Tennessee Tech is that they accept you mostly based on your grades in high school and not just your ACT or SAT scores. But overall, I love this school!... Read 1,138 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 79%

• Net price $15,481

• SAT range 1030-1270

• Maryville, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.85 out of 5  384 reviews

Other: I am actually an upcoming freshman at Maryville, and I am going to be playing for their softball team. So far, I really love Maryville College. The counseling staff is amazing, they are friendly and work fast to answer all of my questions. The campus is beautiful and smaller, so I won't have to worry about navigating a large campus. And I am very excited to be joining their softball program, it is a drama free environment which is definitely a relief. I am very excited to be continuing my education at Maryville College! Go Scotts!... Read 384 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 68%

• Net price $22,320

• SAT range 1100-1320

• Cleveland, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  1,567 reviews

Freshman: I have had a great experience at Lee University so far! The culture here is awesome, and the professors and students are very intentional in the ways they have looked to form relationships with me in this first semester. I play on the Women's soccer team here, so I have been able to get involved with not only that team, but also several other athletic teams here. The professors are always super helpful and willing to work with my schedule, which makes classes much more manageable and enjoyable.... Read 1,567 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 83%

• Net price $19,159

• SAT range 1000-1230

• Martin, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  998 reviews

Alum: I love how UT Martin is such a safe environment. There’s not that many distractions out, so you can focus on your work easier. I enjoyed the activities the students are given. The Chancellor is always involved. The only change I would like to see is more help with after graduation jobs and guidance. Overall, I had an amazing experience. The staff is helpful and always wear a smile!... Read 998 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 75%

• Net price $11,646

• SAT range 1010-1170

• Johnson City, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  1,451 reviews

Junior: I absolutely adore ETSU! It has been such an incredible place to call home. Coming from over an hour away, and never having been to Johnson City before, I had no reason to believe this would become home for me. Despite this prior hesitancy, this place has become home. From the other students to faculty and staff, you are more than just a number here. Some larger universities it feels as though you are just another check to the university's bank account, YOU ARE NOT HERE. These people care and the location is beautiful. The faculty pushes you to go farther and beyond just the walls of the classroom. Study abroad opportunities are bountiful, and internships are easy to come by. I feel so perfectly setup for my life after college. I would suggest anyone to become a part of the Buccaneer family if you are looking for a wonderful college experience.... Read 1,451 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 87%

• Net price $14,482

• SAT range 940-1170

• Nashville, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  1,784 reviews

Freshman: Belmont has been a great experience so far. All of the people have been nothing short of inviting and welcoming. Initially what drew me to Belmont was the music atmosphere and the location, but upon my first time visiting I completely fell in love with the campus. The campus and the University's grounds are absolutely captivating, and I especially love the campus because it makes it feel more like home and less like school. This school is notably known for its music programs, but it has some other amazing programs as well, and the school is constantly working towards improving their programs every year. No matter what you are majoring in, there are great networking opportunities here in Nashville, and there is always something fun to do! A last bonus about this school is the beautiful music that students play in the gazebos at night, it is so incredibly peaceful, and it's proof that so much talent exists here!... Read 1,784 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 88%

• Net price $35,268

• SAT range 1150-1340

• Chattanooga, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  1,600 reviews

Freshman: I am starting college at UTC as a freshman, and overall my experience has been really good. I have already made a few friends and am enjoying my college schedule. I was impressed with the amount of resources at my school and how helpful my advisor is. I also am in love with downtown Chatt and all the structures on campus (I am thinking about an interior architecture major). I would like their main website to be more straight forward to people new to school, but overall my beginning experiences have been great!... Read 1,600 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 86%

• Net price $13,552

• SAT range 1030-1230

• Clarksville, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  1,480 reviews

Sophomore: In my opinion, APSU is pretty great in academics and flexibility for students. Great college for military and non-traditional students; professors are generally pretty understanding and can accommodate you during hard/busy times. I've had many professors who are extremely knowledgeable and passionate in their subjects and it influences me to appreciate them as well, and even hold a lasting interest after the semester ends. There are plenty of housing options - if you live close enough you may even save the ~9000 dollars for a dorm -, dorms and near-campus appartments are available in the areas surrounding APSU. Student body is also diverse and accepting - I've made a few close friends! The campus is spacious but enough for everything to be a reasonable walk away. University management can be a bit unfair in their decisions (especially when cancelling classes and finals) but keeping good grades will make most campus-wide issues obsolete.... Read 1,480 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 94%

• Net price $14,529

• SAT range 960-1140

• Henderson, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  463 reviews

Alum: I absolutely loved my time at Freed. I spent 5 years working on my BBA in Public Accounting as I intended to become a CPA and needed 150+ hours. Five years later, my work paid for me to get an MBA and when I research this, Freed had just started an online MBA program and two years later I had an MBA in Leadership. Work paid for it and then I got a raise for getting it too! I'm still great friends with my roommate and we traveled 12 hours to spend a week with her and her family. I will forever love my time at Freed.... Read 463 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 88%

• Net price $17,074

• SAT range 1020-1230

• Nashville, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.42 out of 5  1,738 reviews

Freshman: When I first visited Tennessee State University, it made me change my perspective on college in general. Because of the tour, my mind was then set on an HBCU (Historically Black College University) The way they embodied and embraced family at the school, made me more comfortable with my decision on going. I recently just experienced orientation there in June, and I can definitely say it made me more confident with leaving home behind. Honestly, there’s nothing I would change except maybe the distance away from home in Texas. Other than that, Tennessee State is truly the new home for me!... Read 1,738 reviews

• grade C

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $11,880

• SAT range —

• Collegedale, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  824 reviews

Sophomore: The school shines in its outdoor activities allowing for a lot of new and exciting opportunities such as rock climbing, white water kayaking, caving, etc. Many of the professors have a passion and gift for teaching, encouraging students to take responsibility for their education. However, the food tends to be expensive without many options and has a subpar taste. Additionally, events such as Vespers or Convocation count towards mandatory worship credits. If these worship credits are not met the students can face heavy fees. The housing department of the school is abysmal and can take weeks to respond or not follow up at all. Finally, the administration makes decisions that put its wealthy donors first, making policies that negatively impact the happiness of the students.... Read 824 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 75%

• Net price $24,127

• SAT range 970-1250

• Jefferson City, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  531 reviews

Freshman: If you love personal, one-on-one learning, then Carson-Newman is the place for you! Every professor I have had so far has remembered my name and will even talk to me outside of class in passing. So overall, the staff is tremendous! Another thing that I love is since it is a smaller university, you can make deeper connections will your peers because chances are you will see them on campus or have classes with them constantly. Also, one of the main reasons I chose to attend C-N is due to their Bonner Scholar program, which is service-based. Through the program, I have truly learned and grown as a person and have discovered new passions while serving others and the community. In addition, the scholarship pays for my stay here, which is a nice bonus. Overall, I 10/10 recommend coming here if you want high-quality professors, friendly staff and administrators, great programs and clubs, and, most notably, an incredible opportunity to make lasting friendships!... Read 531 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 79%

• Net price $18,147

• SAT range 960-1150

• Nashville, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  439 reviews

Freshman: The campus itself was beautiful! The staff were really nice. I am a biology major, and the science department truly cares about you. They all want you to exceed in all walks of life. They teach in a way you can understand the concept and explain it to anyone!... Read 439 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 78%

• Net price $15,795

• SAT range 1040-1290

• Harrogate, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.55 out of 5  360 reviews

Junior: Lincoln Memorial University is a wonderful place to attend college. The campus is absolutely beautiful. Not to mention, there is an abundant amount of rich history right in this area. It has become a place to call home with people to call family. There is a variety of majors one can choose from. There are also amazing opportunities such as studying abroad. The campus is big on student involvement and does a fantastic job of putting together activities and community service events. Because the university is located in a small town, there is not much to do. Therefore, Lincoln Memorial University is super engaged in student life to give students a fun college experience. Another thing I really like about Lincoln Memorial University is that they include the community in events too. For example, the university will hold concerts as a fun, creative, and affordable way for funding. Lincoln Memorial University also has a wide range of sports and curriculars for its students. Go Splitters!... Read 360 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 70%

• Net price $23,324

• SAT range 1000-1220

• Greeneville, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.47 out of 5  281 reviews

Junior: The college has been communicative and very helpful in helping me along each semester. I do not attend in person but I am enrolled as an Adult Online Student. Even though I attend online, advisors and professors alike communicate effectively to ensure I am okay and moving forward without difficulties.... Read 281 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 77%

• Net price $13,234

• SAT range 910-1110

• Dayton, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  237 reviews

Works Here: Faculty care for all students and take the time to individually get to know you! Beautiful and secluded campus in Dayton, TN.... Read 237 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $15,901

• SAT range —