The University of Tennessee features five campus locations throughout the state. Founded as Blount College in 1794, the Knoxville campus is the University of Tennessee's flagship campus and is among the top public research universities in the country. It is ranked 47th in the 2011 U.S. News and World Report's list of top public schools. The University of Tennessee also has locations in Chattanooga, Martin, Tullahoma and Memphis.
Other public universities in the state of Tennessee include Austin Peay State University, East Tennessee State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee State University, Tennessee Technological University and the University of Memphis. According to the U.S News and World Report 2011 rankings, Tennessee Tech is rated the 10th best regional public school in the South. Middle Tennessee State is ranked 24th, while Austin Peay State is ranked 32nd.
There are 13 community colleges in the state of Tennessee. Volunteer State Community College, which is located in Gallatin, and Nashville State Community College are in the north, while Chattanooga State Community College, Cleveland State and Motlow State are located in the southern part of the state. Dyersburg State Community College, Jackson State Community College and Southwest Tennessee Community College are located in western Tennessee, while Roane State Community College, Walters State Community College and Pellissippi State Community College are in the east. Columbia State is roughly 50 miles south of Nashville, while Northeast State Community College is located in Blountville, which is just south of Virginia.
There are 41 private colleges and universities in Tennessee. Vanderbilt University is a private research institution located in Nashville and has a total enrollment of just under 13,000 students. It was rated 17th in U.S. News and World Report's 2011 rankings of national universities, and it was ranked 51st in the Times Higher Education's World University Rankings. Belmont University -- also located in Nashville -- is ranked fifth on the U.S. News and World Report's list of regional universities in the South. Jackson-based Union University is 15th on the list, while Lipscomb University is listed at number 18.
There are over 320 career schools and colleges that operate within the state. Students have the opportunity to earn diplomas and certificates in addition to associate, bachelor's and master's degrees in over 275 different programs. Institutions are accredited by national or regional agencies, such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.