A Student's Guide: Universities in Nashville, TN

Students comparing universities in Nashville, TN can choose among seven institutions: Vanderbilt University, Belmont University, Lipscomb University, Tennessee State University, Trevecca Nazarene University, Fisk University, and Meharry Medical College. Six offer undergraduate pathways, while Meharry primarily serves students pursuing advanced health-related degrees.

But choosing a university involves more than recognizing its name: a music business student needs different facilities from an engineering major, and two institutions in the same city can have very different tuition bills.

Nashville Universities by Type and Program

The Seven Institutions, Through a Student's Eyes

Vanderbilt University: Explore Academic Life Before Applying

2301 Vanderbilt Place

Vanderbilt offers undergraduate study across five schools: Arts and Science, Engineering, Peabody College, Blair School of Music, and the College of Connected Computing.

• The 'Dore for a Day program gives high school seniors a view of academic life beyond a standard campus tour: participants meet a student host, sit in on a class, and have lunch on campus.
• Mandatory direct charges, including tuition, housing, food, and student fees, reach $96,896 a year.
• Vanderbilt meets full demonstrated financial need with no loans and also awards merit scholarships, so the published amount is not necessarily what an admitted student pays.

Belmont University: Look Beyond the Recording Studio

1900 Belmont Boulevard

Belmont's Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business makes the university especially relevant to students aiming for careers in Nashville's music and entertainment industries, although its programs also cover business, nursing, education, sciences, and visual arts.

• Music business, audio engineering, and performance follow separate paths, so compare the courses, studios, and internships for your intended major, ideally in a department meeting rather than on a general campus tour.
• A residence hall and meal plan bring first-year costs to $61,330 before books.
• General academic merit scholarships for 2027 enrollment range from $8,000 to $25,000 per year for eligible applicants.

Lipscomb University: Explore the Degree Beyond the Classroom

One University Park Drive

Lipscomb combines undergraduate programs in business, engineering, education, nursing, and the arts with a Christian university environment.

• Nursing students pay more than $6,600 in extra fees in each of their junior and senior years, so applicants should also ask when clinical placements begin and where students complete them.
• Engineering applicants should look into laboratory access, project opportunities, and how the degree is organized.
• Campus life also includes NCAA Division I athletics, with Allen Arena hosting Bisons basketball and volleyball.
• Room and board raises the annual total to $59,998.

Tennessee State University: Understand the Public University Advantage

3500 John A. Merritt Boulevard

Tennessee State University is a public, historically Black, land-grant university founded in 1912 that teaches agriculture, engineering, business, education, and health-related fields.

• TSU has two Nashville campuses: the main campus and the Avon Williams campus downtown.
• Its land-grant mission ties agricultural study to research in plant science, biotechnology, and food science, and students can join faculty projects that serve Tennessee communities.
• With housing, meals, books, and personal costs, residents pay an estimated $28,131 a year and out-of-state students $42,827, so residency status changes the price considerably.

Trevecca Nazarene University: Look Closely at Program Format

333 Murfreesboro Pike

Trevecca is a Christian university that serves both traditional undergraduates and adults returning to finish a degree in fields such as business, education, and healthcare-related study.

• If you're balancing classes with a job, compare the program formats: check if courses meet on campus or online, how earlier credits transfer, and if the academic calendar fits your responsibilities. Adult and degree-completion programs also have their own rates.
• For traditional full-time students, the annual total reaches $47,050 with housing, meals, and the student resource fee.

Fisk University: A Campus Where History Remains Visible

1000 17th Avenue North

Since opening in 1866, Fisk University has had a remarkable connection to American music through the Fisk Jubilee Singers, whose performances helped preserve spirituals and introduce them to wider audiences.

• Funds from the singers' early performances helped pay for the construction of Jubilee Hall.
• The Carl Van Vechten Gallery showcases work by renowned African American artists.
• The John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library houses the university's archives, which history, music, art, and humanities students can use for coursework and research.
• Its published charges are from 2025-26, so confirm newer figures with Fisk.

Meharry Medical College: A Different Stage of Higher Education

1005 Dr. D. B. Todd Jr. Boulevard

Meharry Medical College focuses on graduate and professional degrees in medicine, dentistry, public health, and biomedical research rather than a conventional four-year undergraduate experience.

• If you're still in high school, start with the requirements for your intended profession: medicine and dentistry generally require undergraduate preparation before professional study, while other graduate programs have their own prerequisites.
• Beyond health care, its School of Applied Computational Sciences offers master's and doctoral degrees in data science, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.

Comparing the Cost of Nashville Universities

Published prices do not always cover the same expenses: some list tuition alone, while others include fees, housing, and meals. Treat the figures below as a starting point, not an affordability ranking.

For a meaningful comparison, calculate the same categories for each institution:

• Tuition and required academic fees.
• Housing and meal plan, or realistic off-campus expenses.
• Books, laboratory charges, and major-specific materials.
• Scholarships and grants that do not require repayment.
• Any remaining amount your family must finance.

Use each university's net price calculator to estimate your likely cost, then compare the financial aid offers you receive after admission.

What Does Student Life Look Like at Nashville Universities?

During a visit, especially if you expect to live on campus, look for three things:

• Do students gather in common areas between classes?
• How far do residence halls sit from classrooms?
• Which dining and study areas stay open into the evening?

Current students can tell you where they spend weekends, where they find part-time jobs, and which activities require extra fees.

Traditions shape that experience too. At TSU, for example, the Aristocrat of Bands became the first collegiate marching band to win a Grammy Award for its 2023 album The Urban Hymnal.

Where Nashville's Campuses Sit and How to Plan Visits

Nashville's universities fall into a few clear areas:

• Vanderbilt sits in the Midtown and West End area, next to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, while Belmont lies farther south along Belmont Boulevard and Lipscomb sits farther south on the same road.
• Fisk and Meharry stand next to each other in North Nashville, a neighborhood with deep educational and cultural history, while Tennessee State's main campus lies farther west, with its Avon Williams campus downtown.
• Trevecca sits southeast of downtown along Murfreesboro Pike.

Location shapes daily student life, so ask where students usually complete internships, clinical placements, and part-time jobs.

If you'll be moving around between different campuses, plan around confirmed admissions appointments rather than trying to see them all in a single day.

A tour, admissions meeting, or department appointment can take several hours, so two full visits in one day often show you more than four short stops.

Five Questions to Take into an Admissions Conversation

Bring these to each admissions conversation:

1. What does my intended major cost beyond standard tuition? Ask about equipment, clinical charges, or course-specific expenses.
2. How soon can undergraduates join research projects? Request examples from the department.
3. What proportion of my financial aid renews automatically? Find out the GPA and enrollment requirements.
4. What housing options can I realistically access after my first year? Availability and rates may change.
5. Can I speak with a current student in my intended program? Their academic experience may differ from a general tour guide's.

Finding Your Place Among Nashville's Universities

Nashville offers several distinct routes through higher education, from undergraduate liberal arts and public research programs to advanced medical training. The most useful comparison starts with the degree you want, the net cost you can afford, and the academic experience you hope to gain.