Best College Towns In Tennessee
A US state with rich history and diverse terrain and landforms, Tennessee is home to some of the country’s most charming and beautiful college towns. Living in any of these college towns having spectacular natural locales, live entertainment venues, close-knit communities, reasonably-priced residential properties, and prospective job opportunities offers significant advantages for both locals and students. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission oversees public higher education in the state and guides its two public university systems: the University of Tennessee System and the Tennessee Board of Regents. This article provides a glimpse into some of the best college towns in the Volunteer State.
Knoxville
Knoxville, the county seat of Knox County, is situated in the Great Appalachian Valley, approximately midway between the Great Smoky Mountains and the Cumberland Plateau. The state’s third-largest city and the biggest city in East Tennessee, Knoxville is home to many prestigious higher education institutions, such as the flagship campus of the University of Tennessee, Pellissippi State Community College, Johnson University, and South College. Many other universities like Carson-Newman University, Lincoln Memorial University, Roane State Community College, National College, Tennessee Wesleyan University, Tusculum University, King University, and Strayer University also have satellite campuses in the city. Established on September 10, 1794, the University of Tennessee is a public land-grant research university with an enrolment of over 31,701 students, of which 25,067 are undergraduates and 6,634 students are postgraduates. One of the nation’s oldest public universities, the University of Tennessee, is one of Knoxville’s top employers, employing thousands of residents.
As the principal city of the Knoxville Metropolitan Area, Knoxville perfectly mixes southern charm with a vibrant progressive atmosphere, serving as an ideal locale for residents and students. Visitors to the city are attracted by its various cultural activities, outdoor adventures, and different sites of interest, like the Knoxville Museum of Art, Market Square, Museum of East Tennessee History, Tennessee Amphitheater, and many more. The University of Tennessee sports team, the Tennessee Volunteers, is extremely popular throughout the city and surrounding regions. The home ground of the Tennessee Volunteers Football Team, Neyland Stadium, with an official capacity of 101,915, is considered the world’s eighth-largest and the country’s sixth-largest stadium.
Chattanooga
The state’s fourth-largest city and the county seat of Hamilton County, Chattanooga, is located along the Tennessee River’s Moccasin Bend, close to the state’s border with Georgia. The city is home to reputed higher education institutions like the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College, and a branch campus of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. Established in 1886, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has the University of Tennessee System’s second-largest campus that offers more than 50 undergraduate minors, 100 graduate majors programs and concentrations, and over 140 undergraduate majors and concentrations.
The city’s revitalized downtown area has several cultural, entertainment, and architectural attractions, such as the Tennessee Aquarium, Creative Discovery Museum, Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel, Tivoli Theatre, Coolidge Park, and the Hunter Museum of American Art. The city’s four main bridges help to link the Riverfront and Northshore with the Bluff View Art District and the 13-mile-long Tennessee Riverwalk. The Scenic City’s most attractive feature is its easy accessibility to outdoor recreation facilities. The surrounding mountains, rivers, ridges, trails, and valleys, provide ample opportunities for hiking, whitewater rafting, and rock-climbing activities.
Murfreesboro
The county seat of Rutherford County, Murfreesboro, located along the West Fork Stones River, forms a part of Middle Tennessee’s Nashville Metropolitan Area. The state’s geographic center and sixth-largest city, Murfreesboro, is home to the Middle Tennessee State University. Founded on September 11, 1911, Middle Tennessee State University offers over 300 degree programs via its eight undergraduate colleges and a college of graduate studies. The university is also one of the city’s top employers, providing employment opportunities for many residents.
The city is steeped in history, with Civil War-era sites like the Stones River National Battlefield, while the historic downtown square is filled with shops, restaurants, and a thriving arts scene. Some other major attractions in Murfreesboro include The Middle Tennessee Museum of Natural History, Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, Oaklands Historic House Museum, Bradley Academy Museum, Murfreesboro Center for the Arts, Stones River Mall, and the Avenue Murfreesboro. In addition, the city boasts many parks and green spaces, including the scenic Cannonsburgh Village, Barfield Crescent Park, and Old Fort Park, all of which provide a variety of recreational activities for the students, residents, and tourists.
Nashville
The state capital and most populous city, Nashville, is located along the Cumberland River at the heart of the Nashville metropolitan area. The city is often referred to as the “Athens of the South,” as it houses many renowned higher-learning institutions, including Vanderbilt University, Fisk University, Meharry Medical College, Tennessee State University, American Baptist College, Belmont University, Trevecca Nazarene University, Nashville State Community College, Lipscomb University, and John A. Gupton College. Established in 1873, Vanderbilt University is considered one of the country's leading research universities, primarily known for its education, medical, and law programs. As of 2021, the university has a total enrolment of 13,796 students, of which 7,111 are undergraduates and 6,685 are graduate and professional students.
Nashville is well known for its exceptional music scenes, with the locals and visitors getting a chance to explore entertainment spaces like the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Nashville Repertory Theatre, Schermerhorn Symphony Center, County Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Ryman Auditorium, etc. In addition to its vibrant music scene, the city contains many historic Civil War-era sites, well-preserved antebellum plantation houses, museums, and parks like Centennial Park, Warner Parks, and Radnor Lake State Natural Area.
Cookeville
The county seat and biggest city of Putnam County, Cookeville, is situated in the Upper Cumberland region, approximately midway between Knoxville and Nashville. This quintessential college town is home to Tennessee Technological University, Tennessee Bible College, and a branch campus of Volunteer State Community College. Locally known as Tennessee Tech, the Tennessee Technological University offers several programs that place particular emphasis on STEM studies, in addition to other fields of study like nursing, liberal arts, agriculture, business, and education. Providing employment opportunities for over 1,500 employees, Tennessee Tech is one of Cookeville’s top employers.
As the “Hub of the Upper Cumberlands,” Cookeville is a regional center for education, health care, retailing, and cultural activities. The city has several unique tourist sites like the Cummins Falls State Park, Cookeville Depot Museum, Burgess Falls State Park, Dogwood Outdoor Performance Pavilion, Cookeville Performing Arts Center, etc. Moreover, the city’s downtown area contains many locally owned retail stores, cute cafes, and homey restaurants that cater to everyone who visits them.
Memphis
Located in the state’s southwestern portion on the high Chickasaw bluffs above the Mississippi River, Memphis is the state’s second-most populous and the American Southeast’s fifth-most populous city. Memphis houses many reputed higher-level education institutions, including the University of Memphis, Christian Brothers University, LeMoyne-Owen College, Rhodes College, Baptist College of Health Sciences, Southwest Tennessee Community College, Memphis College of Art, and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Being one of the Southern United States’ historic and culturally significant cities, Memphis is filled with various unique attractions like the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Pink Palace Museum and Planetarium, National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis Pyramid, Beale Street, Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Orpheum Theatre, etc. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the city’s many parks, including W.C. Handy Park, Audubon Park, Old Forest Arboretum, Jesse H Turner Park, and the Memphis Botanic Garden.
Clarksville
The state’s fifth-largest city and the county seat of Montgomery County, Clarksville, is located in the northern part of the state, close to its border with Kentucky. The city is home to the main campus of Austin Peay State University and branch campuses of Daymar Institute, and the Nashville State Community College. Being the principal central city of the Clarksville metropolitan area, Clarksville houses many notable attractions, such as the Roxy Theatre, Governor’s Square Mall, Clarksville City Arboretum, Fort Defiance, Fortera Stadium, and the Dunbar Cave State Park.
Sewanee
Forming a part of the Tullahoma, Tennessee, Micropolitan Statistical Area, Sewanee is located on the Cumberland Plateau’s western extremity in Middle Tennessee’s southeastern portion. This picturesque town is well-known for being the home of Sewanee: The University of the South. Established in 1857, the University of the South is a private liberal arts college managed by the Episcopal Church. Officially referred to as the “Domain,” the university’s campus is spread over 13,000 acres of spectacular mountain property, offering the students a serene ambiance for studying besides exploring the surrounding natural beauty. Sewanee’s close-knit community and various annual events like the Sewanee Summer Music Festival and Sewanee Writers’ Conference draws students and tourists from all over the world.
Johnson City
The state’s eighth-largest city, Johnson City, is located in a valley in the southern Appalachian Mountains in the northeastern portion of the state. Johnson City is home to the main campus of East Tennessee State University, besides branch campuses of Northeast State Community College and Tusculum College. Established on October 2, 1911, as East Tennessee State Normal School, East Tennessee State University is currently the state’s fifth-largest university, with 14,334 students. The university, together with the “Med-Tech” Corridor, greatly influences the economy of Johnson City.
The principal city of the Johnson City Metropolitan Statistical Area is home to a wide variety of retail businesses, including local-owned boutiques, galleries, and well-known national brands. Some of the notable attractions in the city include Mall at Johnson City, East Tennessee State University Arboretum, Freedom Hall Civic Center, Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site, William B. Greene Jr. Stadium, etc.
From the buzzing streets of Nashville to the scenic natural beauty of Sewanee, the Volunteer State hosts many college towns, each boasting its distinctive charm. All these college towns offer an ideal combination of top-notch educational opportunities, unique cultures, and various recreational activities for students and residents. In short, whether you are a prospective student searching for a renowned university to pursue your academic goals, or just an adventurer seeking new experiences, Tennessee’s most sought-after college towns will provide everything you need.
