Study in Nashville, The United States

About Nashville

Nashville, the capital of Tennessee since 1843, lies on the Cumberland River in the southern United States. Known as Music City, it has an economy built on music and entertainment, tourism, publishing, technology, higher education, car manufacturing and health care management, according to Vanderbilt University.

For international students, Nashville offers a wide choice in one city: a private research university, a public land-grant university, two private Christian universities and a community college. It suits students interested in music and the music business, health care, engineering or a two-year start before transferring.

Studying in Nashville

Our directory lists five schools in Nashville: four universities and one community college. Vanderbilt University, founded in 1873, is a private research university with more than 7,300 undergraduates and more than 6,200 graduate and professional students in 12 schools and colleges. It has an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and 47% of its students take part in study abroad.

Tennessee State University (TSU), founded in 1912, is a public, land-grant, historically Black university (HBCU). It has a 500-acre main campus on the Cumberland River and the downtown Avon Williams campus. The U.S. Department of Education's College Navigator counts 6,310 students. Belmont University opened in 1890 as Belmont College for Young Women; today nearly 9,000 students from every state and more than 30 countries choose from almost 200 programmes, from biophysics to music business. Trevecca Nazarene University, a private Christian university founded in 1901, teaches at its main campus, two satellite campuses, with about 3,200 students.

Nashville State Community College has offered two-year programmes since 1970 at campuses across Middle Tennessee and online. Its 7,533 students can earn associate degrees and certificates or transfer to a four-year university after graduating.

Teaching is in English. International degree students need an F student visa: once admitted, they receive a Form I-20 from the school and apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate. According to EducationUSA, the academic year usually runs from September to May, and international students may work on campus for up to 20 hours a week in their first year.

Cost of living for students

Costs vary widely between institutions. College Navigator gives these tuition and fees for 2024-25 (for public institutions, the out-of-state rate):

• Vanderbilt University: $67,498, plus $22,054 for food and housing on campus
• Belmont University: $42,540
• Trevecca Nazarene University: $31,300
• Tennessee State University: $22,416, plus $11,150 for food and housing on campus
• Nashville State Community College: $17,714

Buses are run by WeGo Public Transit. With a QuickTicket card, the app or a contactless card, $2 buys two hours of unlimited rides, and nobody pays more than $4 a day or $65 a month.

Getting around and daily life

Belmont is near the heart of the city, Trevecca describes itself as located in the heart of Nashville, and TSU's Avon Williams campus is downtown. Vanderbilt describes the climate as generally mild, with colder winters and hot summers. At Nashville International Airport, the 1991-2020 normals of NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information give an average temperature of 39.6 °F (about 4 °C) in January and 80.7 °F (about 27 °C) in July, when average daily highs reach 90.9 °F (about 33 °C).

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Nashville?

Our directory lists Vanderbilt University, Tennessee State University, Belmont University and Trevecca Nazarene University, plus Nashville State Community College.

Can I start at a community college in Nashville?

Yes. Nashville State Community College offers associate degrees and certificates, and its graduates can transfer to a four-year university.

How much does a year cost in Nashville?

It depends on the school: for 2024-25, College Navigator gives tuition and fees from $17,714 (Nashville State, out-of-state) to $67,498 (Vanderbilt), before housing and food.

How much does the bus cost?

On WeGo, $2 gives two hours of unlimited rides, with a cap of $4 a day and $65 a month.