Best BSW Colleges in Tennessee 2026

Coming in at #52, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is a BSW program with room to grow. That said, rankings don't tell the whole story — factors like location, campus culture, and fieldwork opportunities matter too.

A 92.0% retention rate shows that students at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville are finding the support they need to persist. You'll pay $11,332 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. The program graduated 92 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

Coming in at #55, Union University is a BSW program with room to grow. That said, rankings don't tell the whole story — factors like location, campus culture, and fieldwork opportunities matter too.

The school holds onto 89.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. Tuition runs $19,476 per year, which is higher than many comparable programs. Financial aid can help offset the cost. Union University produced 18 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Belmont University ranks #191 in our 2026 BSW program list. While the school faces some challenges in certain metrics, it may still be a good fit depending on your priorities and location.

With a retention rate of 87.0%, Belmont University clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. In-state tuition of $39,400 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. Belmont University produced 19 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Southern Adventist University sits at #207 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

A 83.0% retention rate shows that students at Southern Adventist University are finding the support they need to persist. At $24,350 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. With 11 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Freed-Hardeman University sits at #221 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

With a retention rate of 86.0%, Freed-Hardeman University clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. At $25,000 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. The program graduated 10 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

Coming in at #262, University of Memphis is a BSW program with room to grow. That said, rankings don't tell the whole story — factors like location, campus culture, and fieldwork opportunities matter too.

A 77.0% retention rate shows that students at University of Memphis are finding the support they need to persist. At $8,520 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. University of Memphis produced 57 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Lipscomb University sits at #267 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

A 84.0% retention rate shows that students at Lipscomb University are finding the support they need to persist. In-state tuition of $35,848 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. With 12 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

King University sits at #274 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

With 60.0% of students returning after their first year, King University maintains a reasonable retention rate. In-state tuition of $32,902 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. King University produced 41 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

East Tennessee State University sits at #305 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

A 76.0% retention rate shows that students at East Tennessee State University are finding the support they need to persist. You'll pay $7,706 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. With 32 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Middle Tennessee State University sits at #312 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

A 80.0% retention rate shows that students at Middle Tennessee State University are finding the support they need to persist. In-state tuition sits at $7,536 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. Middle Tennessee State University produced 42 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga sits at #364 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

The school holds onto 73.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. In-state tuition sits at $8,232 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga produced 38 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Milligan University sits at #377 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

A 82.0% retention rate shows that students at Milligan University are finding the support they need to persist. In-state tuition of $37,700 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. The program is smaller, with 2 social work completions last year — which can mean more personalized attention.

The University of Tennessee-Martin sits at #410 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

The school holds onto 77.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. You'll pay $8,546 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. With 21 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Coming in at #416, Tennessee Wesleyan University is a BSW program with room to grow. That said, rankings don't tell the whole story — factors like location, campus culture, and fieldwork opportunities matter too.

The school holds onto 72.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. At $28,014 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. Only 9 students completed the BSW recently. Smaller cohorts can be an advantage if you prefer tighter-knit learning.

Lincoln Memorial University sits at #428 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

A 72.0% retention rate shows that students at Lincoln Memorial University are finding the support they need to persist. Tuition runs $25,680 per year, which is higher than many comparable programs. Financial aid can help offset the cost. Only 5 students completed the BSW recently. Smaller cohorts can be an advantage if you prefer tighter-knit learning.

Austin Peay State University ranks #474 in our 2026 BSW program list. While the school faces some challenges in certain metrics, it may still be a good fit depending on your priorities and location.

Austin Peay State University keeps 70.0% of its students year over year, which is in line with what you'd expect from a mid-range program. You'll pay $7,008 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. Austin Peay State University produced 30 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Coming in at #554, Trevecca Nazarene University is a BSW program with room to grow. That said, rankings don't tell the whole story — factors like location, campus culture, and fieldwork opportunities matter too.

With a retention rate of 74.0%, Trevecca Nazarene University clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. In-state tuition of $28,590 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. With 3 recent completions, this is a smaller program. That often translates to closer faculty relationships.

Coming in at #564, Le Moyne-Owen College is a BSW program with room to grow. That said, rankings don't tell the whole story — factors like location, campus culture, and fieldwork opportunities matter too.

The retention rate of 47.0% is below average, which means a significant number of students leave after their first year — something to factor into your decision. You'll pay $10,776 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. Only 6 students completed the BSW recently. Smaller cohorts can be an advantage if you prefer tighter-knit learning.

Coming in at #577, Tennessee State University is a BSW program with room to grow. That said, rankings don't tell the whole story — factors like location, campus culture, and fieldwork opportunities matter too.

Only 33.0% of first-year students return, which suggests Tennessee State University faces challenges in keeping students engaged. At $7,320 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. With 13 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.