Nashville, TN

Nashville skyline with river and sunset

Nashville is known to the rest of the U.S. as the Country Music Capital of the World, but it also has a lot to offer college students. It’s a very active city, with (unsurprisingly) countless bars and live music venues. Southern hospitality is in full swing in Nashville, as is the southern cooking. 

As far as colleges, there is a fair amount of options for a city whose population is nearly 700,000 people, with the largest being a private college, the fairly well-known Vanderbilt University. There is quite a myriad of colleges in Nashville, and here is a closer look.

Universities in Nashville, TN – 4-Year Colleges and Online

There are a whopping 12 colleges in Nashville that offer 4-year degrees, including Vanderbilt, mentioned above. Here are the rest, with any sort of special focus mentioned in parentheses:

  • American Baptist College (religious affiliate)
  • Belmont University (music)
  • DeVry Tennessee
  • Fisk University
  • Hussian College-Daymar College Nashville
  • Lipscomb University
  • Nossi College of Art
  • SAE Institute of Technology
  • Tennessee State University
  • Trevecca Nazarene University
  • Watkins College of Art Design & Film

Community Colleges in Nashville, TN

Similar to 4-year universities, there are several options for 2-year degrees and certifications in Nashville. The Lincoln College of Technology and Nashville State Community College are the main choices for a traditional community college feel, but students can also check out certification programs at many hyper-focused schools such as the Mind Body Institute and the Nashville Film Institute. 

Get to Know Nashville, TN

Nashville, Tennessee - October 9, 2017: Sign at the entrance to Vanderbilt University

If you don’t like live music and bright lights, you might not want to venture downtown too often, as Nashville has live music everywhere, all the time, and it’s not just country. Rock music has heavy roots in Nashville, and several high-grossing rap artists have also gotten their start in the bars and venues around “Cashville.” 

For the outdoors types, the rolling mountains surrounding Nashville offer a chance for a full escape from the lights and music, just a short drive outside of the city. Like most southern cities, the weather is pretty mild, though winters occasionally see some freezing temperatures, and summers can get very humid… luckily there is also a lot of water nearby to have a quick dip between classes. 

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