Last Updated: October 08, 2021
Tennessee - The Volunteer State
The state of Tennessee is located in the south-eastern part of the United States. Tennessee received its statehood in June 1796. Nashville is the capital of the State as well as the largest city. The state of Tennessee is bordered by Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri. According to the United States Census Bureau, the estimated population of Tennessee is about 6.95 million in 2021. Native American tribes such as the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek, and Shawnee were the original inhabitants of this region. The state experiences a temperate climate, where the monthly average temperature ranges from a high of 90° F to a low of 27° F.
Major Cities in Tennessee
Nashville
The capital city of the state, Nashville is also the largest in Tennessee. It is popularly known as the "Music City USA" due to the city's strong musical influence from the past and is also often called the "Athens of the South". The city was founded in the year 1779 and was named in honor of a renowned hero of the American Revolutionary War, Brigadier General Francis Nash. One of the best public universities in the country, Vanderbilt University, is situated in Nashville. The presence of other popular institutes such as Belmont University, Trevecca Nazarene University, Lipscomb University, etc., makes the city a major educational hub. Popular tourist attractions in this city are Music Row, The Nashville Parthenon, Andrew Jackson's Hermitage, Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and a lot more.
Memphis
Memphis is the second-largest city in Tennessee known for ostrich culture and history. The city of Memphis was founded in the year 1819 and was established as a city in 1826. It is a major economic and industrial epicenter with the presence of large companies such as FedEx, AutoZone, and International Paper. Popular educational institutes such as the University of Memphis and Rhodes College are situated in this city. Just like the capital city of Tennessee, Memphis is also popular for its music culture. The city’s major tourist attractions include Graceland: The Home of Elvis Presley, Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum, Sun Studio, Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum, The Memphis Zoo, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, and so on.
Knoxville
Situated in Knox County, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the state of Tennessee. It was founded in the year 1791. It is popularly known as the 'Marble City' due to the marble deposits available here that contribute to the state’s economy. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is one of the most prestigious universities situated in this city. Popular sites in Knoxville include World’s Fair Park, McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, Tennessee Theater, Mabry-Hazen House Museum, Knoxville Zoo, Ijams Nature Center, and so on.
Chattanooga
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the state of Tennessee. Established in 1816, the city is situated in Hamilton County. is also popularly known as the ‘River City' due to the presence of the Tennessee River or the 'Scenic City' because of the greenery that engulfs the city. The city is also a major transportation hub. The popular public university, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is also situated here. Some of the most fascinating sites in this city are Chattanooga Choo Choo, Lookout Mountain, Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, Tennessee Aquarium. Chattanooga Zoo, Raccoon Mountain Caverns, and a lot more.
Economy/Job Market
- The top industries in Tennessee are manufacturing, automobile manufacturing, energy, tourism, agriculture, and health care.
- The largest companies of the state include FedEx, International Paper, Dollar General, HCA Healthcare, Vanguard Health Systems, Eastman Chemical, Dolgencorp, Community Health Systems, AutoZone, Cracker Barrel, and many more.
- The state is experiencing an economic boost which is visible in the declining unemployment rates. There has been a reduction in the unemployment rate from 5.1% in March 2021 to 4.6% in August 2021.
- Government services, Education services, Healthcare, Business, and Manufacturing are currently the main economic sectors that are contributing to the state's economy.
Tuition Fee and Living Cost in Tennessee
The cost of living in Tennessee is lower than that of the United States’ national average. Housing costs are the cheapest, whereas the cost for healthcare services is on the more expensive side, being slightly higher than the national average. The most affordable cities in Tennessee are Milan, Lewisburg, Manchester, and Munford. Some of the most expensive cities include Athens, Nashville, Cookeville, and Sevierville.
Education costs in this state can be high or low. Some of the top universities/colleges have a tuition fee that is twice the amount of the national average, while there are a few institutions that have moderate to low costs.
List of Few Major Universities/Colleges
The public higher education system in the state of Tennessee is mainly managed by two boards. The first one being "The Tennessee Board of Regents" which supervises 13 community colleges and 27 technology centers. The second is the "University Of Tennessee Board Of Trustees" which has the University of Tennessee System under it. Some of the best universities and colleges in the state are:
- The University of Tennessee-Knoxville The University of Tennessee situated in Knoxville is one of the most prestigious public universities in Tennessee and was founded in the year 1794. The university offers approximately 170 majors out of which Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Psychology, Marketing, Finance, and Nursing are the best. It is popular for providing the best academic experience to students along with some of the best scholarship programs. It is also known for its student diversity and spirited campus life. With about 32,000 students and over 1,700 faculty members, the student-to-faculty ratio is 17:1. The tuition fee for undergraduate in-state students is around $15,000 and about $33,000.
- Vanderbilt University Situated in the capital city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a private university and was established in 1873. The university has about 14,000 students, over 1,800 teachers, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 8:1. This is one of the most renowned universities that offer the best teaching and learning experience with interdisciplinary research. It is also popular for its beautiful campus and student diversity. The university ranks #14 nationally according to USNews, 2022 edition. Popular majors offered here are Political Science, Economics, and Social Science. The tuition fee for all undergraduate students is about $56,000.
- The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga This is a public university located in the city of Chattanooga. It was established in 1886 and was originally known as Chattanooga University. It is known for its excellent campus environment, some of the best faculty members, and campus diversity. The university has about 13,000 students, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 18:1. The university offers more than 180 academic programs out of which Business, Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Nursing, Journalism, and Psychology are the most sought-after. The tuition fee for undergraduate in-state students is around $11,000 and roughly $28,000 for out-of-state students.
- University of Memphis Located in the second largest city of Memphis, the public university was established on September 10, 1912. With about 25,000 students and more than 900 faculty members, the student-to-faculty ratio is 18:1. It is known for offering the best education at affordable rates for both in-state and out-of-state students. The university offers more than 250 areas of study, and some of the popular majors here are Liberal Arts and Humanities, Nursing, and Psychology. The tuition fee for undergraduate in-state students is around $11,000 and approximately $15,000 for out-of-state students.
Scholarships/Financial Aid for Students
Young students generally are full of dreams and aspirations about the career path they will follow. This is eventually followed by the plan of pursuing good education from the best institutes to reach the goal. But affording good quality education may not be everyone's cup of tea. The state of Tennessee as well as the institutions within the state have come up with several grants and scholarships that assist students to be educated without much trouble.
- Tennessee Student Assistance Award: This is a state-funded need-based grant offered to assist the undergraduates of Tennessee. To be qualified for the program, the student must be a legal resident of Tennessee, plan to pursue an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution in the state on a full-time or part-time basis. The student is also required to demonstrate the required level of economic need and submit the FAFSA along with the application. The award amount may vary based on the program, the duration, and the type of institution.
- For students from a four-year or two-year private institution the amount will be $4,000 per academic year
- Students from a four-year public institution will receive an amount of $2,000 per academic year.
- The amount for students from a two-year public institution will be $1,300 per academic year.
- Students from Career Schools will obtain an amount of $2,000 per academic year.
- Students from TN College of Applied Technology will receive an amount of $1,000 per academic year.
- Tennessee HOPE Access Grant: This is a popular state grant funded by the state lottery to assist undergraduate students of Tennessee. To be eligible for the program, the student must be a legal resident of the state of Tennessee, must have graduated high school from the state, and pursue an undergraduate degree from an accredited public or private institution in the state on a full-time basis. Students are also required to obtain a score ranging from 2.75 to 2.99 GPA in high school, along with an ACT score between 18 to 20 or a SAT score between 960 " 1050. The award amount is up to $1,250 per semester in four-year institutions and about $875 per semester in two-year institutions.
- Tennessee STEP UP Scholarship: This is a scholarship program designed to help students with intellectual disabilities. To be qualified for the program, the student must be a legal resident of Tennessee, must have graduated high school from the state of Tennessee in an Individualized Education Program (IEP), and acquire a relevant certificate of the program. The candidate should also attend an accredited institution for up to four years on a full-time basis, and maintain satisfactory grades as per the requirements of the institution. The eligible institutions are Lipscomb University, Union University, University of Memphis, University of Tennessee, and Vanderbilt University. The eligible programs are IDEAL Program, Union EDGE Program, TigerLIFE, UT FUTURE, and Next Steps. The award amount for freshman and sophomore is about $1,750 per semester and about $2,250 per semester for junior and senior.
- Tennessee Explore Scholarship Program: This is a scholarship program initiated by The University of Tennessee-Knoxville to assist out-of-state students who display exceptional academic merit. To be qualified for the program, the student must be a US citizen or a domestic international student, must have secured a minimum score of 3.6 GPA during high school, and maintain a minimum score of 3.0 GPA and federal Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) during college. The award will be determined based on the high school GPA along with the ACT/SAT scores in the following manner:
- Students obtaining 3.6 to 3.79 GPA, and a minimum ACT score of 28"36/SAT score of 1300"1600 will receive $7,500 per academic year.
- Students obtaining a 3.6 GPA, and a minimum ACT score of 24"27/SAT score of 1160"1290 will receive $4,000 per academic year.
- Students obtaining a 3.8 GPA or more, and a minimum ACT score of 25"27/SAT score of 1200"1290 will receive $6,000 per academic year.
Tourism
“Tennessee"America at Its Best” is the official slogan of the state which justifies the very spirit of this state. This is a land of diverse people, landscapes, and a rich history that gives its visitors the invigorating experience of exploring Tennessee. The state has numerous amazing attractions such as The Smokies: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Elvis Presley's Graceland, Tennessee Aquarium, Dollywood, The Parthenon, Nashville, Ruby Falls, American Museum of Science and Energy, and several others.
The Volunteer State has also got a lot of exotic dishes to offer. The classic Meat and Three, Banana Pudding, Fried Pickles, Catfish, Country Ham, Greens and Potlikker, Bushwacker, Barbecue Nachos, etc., are some of the best delicacies available here.
Universities & Colleges in Tennessee
*UG - Undergraduate
*G - Graduate
*in - In-state Fees
*out - Out-of-State Fees
- Recommended program (Top 250)
