Independent colleges and universities in west Tennessee, as defined by TAICU, are: Baptist College of Health Sciences, Bethel University (Presbyterian), Christian Brothers University, Freed-Hardeman University (Churches of Christ), Lambuth University (Methodist), Lane College (Christian Methodist Episcopal), LeMoyne-Owen University (United Church of Christ/Baptist), Memphis College of Art, Rhodes College (Presbyterian), Southern College of Optometry and Union University (Southern Baptist).
Independent colleges and universities in middle Tennessee, as defined by TAICU, are: Aquinas College (Catholic), Belmont University (Christian), Cumberland University, Fisk University, Free Will Baptist Bible College, Lipscomb University (Churches of Christ), Martin Methodist College, Meharry Medical College (Methodist), Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia (Seventh Day Adventist), Sewanee: The University of the South (Episcopal), Trevecca Nazarene University, Vanderbuilt University and Watkins College of Art, Design and Film.
Independent colleges and universities in east Tennessee are: Bryan College (Christian), Carson-Newman College (Christian/Baptist), Johnson Bible College, King College (Presbyterian), Lee University (Church of God), Lincoln Memorial University, Maryville College (Presbyterian), Milligan College (Churches of Christ), Southern Adventist University, Tennessee Wesleyan College (Methodist) and Tusculum College (Presbyterian).
These independent schools are members of TAICU, an organization that unites the schools to "work collaboratively in areas of public policy, cost containment and professional development to better serve the state and its citizens," according to the TAICU website. TAICU belongs to the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the Council of Independent Colleges, groups that strive to contain costs, improve education and increase the contributions made by independent schools.
Tennessee's independent colleges and universities educate about 72,000 in-state students each year, plus about 30,000 out-of-state students. The schools range from small in size, with about 200 students, to schools of over 12,500 students. Tuition at Tennessee independent colleges is 28 percent lower than the national average, according to TAICU, and about 89 percent of the state's independent college students receive financial aid. Statistics show that students at these independent colleges are consistently more likely to graduate than students at public institutions in the state.