Nashville Education

Nashville is often labeled the "Athens of the South" due to the many colleges and universities in the city and metropolitan area. These colleges and universities in Nashville include American Baptist College, Aquinas College, The Art Institute of Tennessee- Nashville, Belmont University, Draughons Junior College, Fisk University, Free Will Baptist Bible College, Gupton College, Lipscomb University, Meharry Medical College, Nashville School of Law, Nashville Auto Diesel College, Nashville State Community College, Strayer University, Tennessee State University, Trevecca Nazarene University, University of Phoenix, Vanderbilt University, and Watkins College of Art and Design.

Within 30 miles (50 km) of Nashville in Murfreesboro is Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), a full-sized public university with Tennessee's largest undergraduate population. Enrollment in post-secondary education in the city is around 43,000. Within the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area which includes MTSU, Cumberland University (Lebanon), Volunteer State Community College (Gallatin), and O'More College of Design (Franklin) total enrollment exceeds 74,000. Within a 40 mile (65 km) radius are Austin Peay State University (Clarksville) and Columbia State Community College (Columbia), enrolling an additional 13,600.

The city is served by the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools and numerous private schools, such as Harpeth Hall School, Montgomery Bell Academy, Father Ryan and Saint Cecilia Academy, the latter of which was named as one of the Top 50 Catholic High Schools in America (2004, 2006 and 2007).

Area Colleges and Universities (Public & Private)

The Nashville area's 21 accredited four-year and postgraduate institutions are an integral part of the economic and cultural identity of the area. In addition, the area boasts six community colleges and 11 vocational and technical schools. The availability of such varied higher education choices creates an extremely well-educated base of residents. In the Nashville MSA, 44.9 percent of adults at least 25 years old have one or more years of college education, and more than 45,000 people have graduate or professional degrees.

Austin Peay University - Austin Peay University offers four academic colleges that include; Arts and Letters, Science and Mathematics, Professional Programs and Social Sciences, and Graduate Studies. While AP is still locally known as a learning school for teachers, it includes over 50 undergraduate majors and 91 different concentrations!

Belmont University - Belmont University is one of Nashville's most historical schools, with a rich heritage, that dates back into the late 1800's. Belmont offers more than 75 areas of study, a dozen or so master's programs as well as several doctoral degrees.

Columbia State Community College - As Tennessee's first two-year college, Columbia State Community College has five campuses and offers more than 50 programs of study.

Fisk University - Fisk University is a predominately African-American liberal arts university offering 25 majors and pre-professional certification programs. Its annual enrollment is around 1,000 students.

Lipscomb University - Lipscomb University is a coeducational Christian school that offers more than 130 programs of study in nearly 50 majors leading to bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees.

Meharry Medical College - Meharry Medical College is the largest independent historically black medical college in the nation. One of its main goals is to educate minority physicians who in turn will care for the medically underserved.

Middle Tennessee State University - Middle Tennessee State University is a Tennessee Board of Regents Institution and offers degrees through seven university colleges, including basic and applied sciences, business, education and behavioral science, honors, liberal arts, mass communication, and graduate studies.

Nashville State Technical Community College - Nashville State Technical Community College offers around 50 different degree programs as well as a dozen or so certificate programs. The main programs of study include an Associate of Science and Associate of Arts degrees.

Tennessee State University - Tennessee State University currently offers over 40 undergraduate programs, 20 graduate programs, along with several doctorate programs. The student population is normally just under 10,000 annually.

Vanderbilt University - Vanderbilt University is a private research university that is comprised of 10 schools and consistently ranked as one of the top 20 universities in the nation.

Volunteer State Community College - Volunteer State Community College is a public two-year community college located 30 miles north of Nashville in Gallatin, Tennessee. Vol State currently offers associate degrees, certificates, and continuing education courses.

1800 Baptist World Center Dr.

Nashville, TN 37207-4952

4210 Harding Rd.

Nashville, TN 37205

100 Centerview Dr.

Nashville, TN 37214

601 College St.

Clarksville, TN 37044

1003 Monroe Ave.

Memphis, TN 38104

1900 Belmont Blvd.

Nashville, TN 37212

1801 West End Ave., Suite 200

Nashville, TN 37203

2400 Blakemore Ave.

Nashville, TN 37212

One Cumberland Square

Lebanon, TN 37087

3343 Perimeter Hill Dr., Ste. 200

Nashville, TN 37211

1000 Seventeenth Ave. N.

Nashville, TN 37208

3606 West End Ave.

Nashville, TN 37205

807 Walker Ave.

Memphis, TN 38126

One University Park Dr.

Nashville, TN 37204-3951

1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd.

Nashville, TN 37208

1301 East Main St.

Murfreesboro, TN 37132

423 South Margin St.

Franklin, TN 37064

441 Donelson Pike

Nashville, TN 37214

30 Rachel Drive, Suite 200

Nashville, TN 37214

3500 John A. Merritt Blvd.

Nashville, TN 37209

P.O. Box 5006

Cookeville, TN 38505

333 Murfreesboro Rd.

Nashville, TN 37210

399 Tiny Town Rd.

Clarksville, TN 37042

616 Marriott Drive, Suite 150

Nashville, TN 37214

2201 West End Ave.

Nashville, TN 37240

2298 Rosa L. Parks Blvd. (MetroCenter)

Nashville, TN 37228

200 Seaboard Lane

Franklin, TN 37067

Nashville Public Schools

Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, or MNPS, is a school district that serves the city of Nashville, Tennessee. Over 74,000 students are currently enolled in the district's 71 elementary schools, 36 middle schools and 15 high schools.

Metro Nashville Public Schools traces its roots to 1855, when Hume School (now Hume Fogg Academic High School)opened its doors. The district today includes 133 schools, offering instruction from Pre-School through 12th grade, with some high schools also offering college-level credits.

More than 99 percent of MNPS teachers meet federal standards in at least one subject, with 93.56 percent of classes taught by a highly qualified instructor. The average teacher experience is 13.0 years at the elementary level, 11.5 years at the middle school level, and 14.0 years at the high school level. A total of 39.83 percent of MNPS teachers have a Bachelors degree, 36.67 percent have a Master's degree, 18.81 percent have Master's plus, and 4.6 percent have a doctorate degree. Current enrollment exceeds 74,000 students, reflecting a diverse spectrum of backgrounds. Students represent 84 countries and speak languages from more than 77 language groups. MNPS currently has three of the five prestigious International Baccalaureate programs in the state of Tennessee and its teachers routinely earn state and national honors for excellence in the classroom.