One of the oldest historically black colleges in the nation, Lane College was founded by Isaac Lane, a former slave and bishop with a simple mission to teach African-Americans to "read, write, and speak correctly." Since then, Lane has been instrumental in eradicating black illiteracy in the South and has grown to offer an expansive range of degrees and subjects to promote academic and vocational growth. Where ministry was once the focus of this top Tennessee college, Lane now features over 30 concentrations in the natural sciences, business, and liberal arts to cater to students of all races, faiths, and interests.

Founded in 1891 by James Lipscomb and David Harding, Lipscomb University's mission for more than 100 years has been to teach the Bible as an indispensible academic resource alongside more established works of the Western canon. Today, this takes the form of a rigorous liberal core curriculum (that includes the Bible) which students can combine with one of more than 117 concentrations and fields of study, ranging from ministry to business to arts and entertainment. With a 56% acceptance rate Lipscomb isn't exactly competitive, but that's not a bad thing; U.S. News designates this cheap Tennessee college as an A+ School for B Students, providing a world-class education for all.

King University is another affordable Tennessee college that caters to students of faith. Affiliated with several Presbyterian churches in the US, King cultivates students in their spirituality through mandatory faith-based credit hours each semester. These can be obtained through various means, including community service and chapel or convocation attendance. King University is also notable for the Beuchner Institute. Named after Frederick Beuchner, the notable Presbyterian theologian, the institute helps make spirituality relatable and relevant to young people through weekly lectures on the intersections of faith and culture in modern society.

Set on a 400-acre campus surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains and offering hands-on education in equine science and management, one gets the impression that there is a lot of horsing around at Hiwassee College. But that couldn't be further from the truth. Hiwassee's Methodist traditions, values, and wide open doors provide a safe and fecund space for spiritual and intellectual exploration and growth. Hiwassee offers four baccalaureate programs in Equine Science or Management/Training, Pastoral Studies, and Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts, making it a top Tennessee college for students who love the land and the lord.

Featured in Loren Pope's Colleges That Change Lives and ranked as the #1 Service-Learning College in the US by Newsweek, Rhodes College is one of the best examples of a Tennessee college for students who learn by doing. Over 75% of Rhodes students participate in fellowships, which include study abroad, internships, research, independent creative work, and civic engagement opportunities. Rhodes' 10:1 student-faculty ratio guarantees a personalized education where students direct their learning within the classroom as well. And with an 80% graduation rate, it's safe to say that the Rhodes formula for success is, well, a success.

At this Tennessee college, faith and knowledge are intertwined at every level to provide a holistic education for Christian students from around country and beyond. This small, Christian liberal arts college accepts students of all faiths and denominations but still expects students to participate in their Spiritual Formation Program (SFP), which consists of community service, mission trips, chapel and convocation services, and prayer groups, among other faith-oriented activities. Religious and musical events are housed in the monolithic Seeger Memorial Chapel, the most noticeable building on campus at 31,000 square feet. To round out student's spiritual growth, faculty members are selected to be faith leaders in their community, providing intellectual and existential insights necessary for the development of true servants of God.

In a time when our environment is being held hostage by our fossil fuel dependency and wastefulness, future leaders are needed to take a stand against climate change. This Tennessee university produces green leaders at their ecologically friendly and sustainable campus, ranked among the greenest in the country by the Princeton Review. Sourcing 60% of produce locally/organically, reducing waste, utilities, and harmful chemicals, and diverting 25% of all remaining waste through recycling, UTM has taken notable strides to reduce their carbon footprint. This affordable Tennessee college also operates the University of Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station (UTAES), which is a leader in biofuel research in the southeast.

This Tennessee university is as rare as a unicorn among colleges: it's a full-sized, comprehensive university with an emphasis on undergraduate education rather than research; a technology and science-driven institution surrounded by lakes, state parks, mountains, and rivers; and a top college in Tennessee (with a $439K ROI on PayScale.com!) for the price of an online program. In addition to the notable programs in STEM fields like computer science and engineering, TTU offers a full range of degrees and majors in business, arts and sciences, and even agricultural studies and human ecology.

One of the five pillars of Tennessee's state university system, the University of Tennessee Chattanooga is probably best known for its nationally-ranked business program. Although we can't say for sure, this program—which was featured among BusinessWeek's top 100 programs in the nation—probably has something to do with Chattanooga's $294K ROI on PayScale.com. But UTC isn't just a smart investment; with over 140 undergraduate majors in comprehensive liberal studies, engineering, and pre-professional departments, students have the opportunity to study almost anything they want. And with 75% of students receiving financial aid—including the prestigious HOPE scholarship for state residents—you don't have to pay much to get an education that pays off.

Tennessee Wesleyan College is living proof that the best colleges in Tennessee aren't necessarily the biggest or the most expensive. Affiliated with the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church, TWC offers a bracing intellectual climate in a modest, intimate environment to cultivate excellence and integrity in all students. And with just over 1,000 undergraduates enrolled and a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio, teachers and students are able to communicate regularly and directly to form close mentoring relationships. TWC also encourages students to maintain their faith with worship activities administrated by the campus chaplain, ranging from weekly chapel to lectures from visiting religious scholars and pastors.