Best Medical Schools in Tennessee

Medical school acceptance rates in Tennessee indicate the competitive nature of these coveted degree programs. In fact, students considering a medical degree will need an acceptable MCAT score, a robust application package, and hold an approved bachelor's or master's degree. Approved applicants will spend four years on the core which will eventually yield a designation as a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) as a function of the school's curricular design.

Next, you will engage in a residency program and internship at an approved hospital facility. Completion of these items offer the opportunity to take a practical exam and written test before applying for licensure from the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners. Quickly find a list of top-ranked med schools in Tennessee today with accredited universities below or with our med school page to gather vital information about relevant programs.

List of Medical Schools in Tennessee

The Tennessee medical schools listed below are accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, which is an organization that provides accreditation for medical education nationwide.

Schools are sorted by size with the largest medical schools first, based on the number of medical student graduates per year.

1. Meharry Medical College - Cookeville, TN

• Medical program accredited since 1942
• About 100 students graduate per year
• Estimated tuition & fees are about $54,000 per year

2. Vanderbilt University - Jackson, TN

• Medical program accredited since 1942
• About 100 students graduate per year
• Estimated tuition & fees are about $60,000 per year

3. East Tennessee State University - Dyersburg, TN

• Medical program accredited since 1978
• About 60 students graduate per year
• Estimated tuition & fees are about $34,000 per year (Nonresidents: $70,000)

Physicians can work in many types of specialties which may cause a large range in salary expectations. Here is a list of average annual salaries for general practitioners working in major cities in Tennessee.

• Memphis: $161,000
• Kingsport, Bristol, Bristol: $150,000
• Knoxville: $166,000
• Jackson: $251,000

Doctor's in Tennessee Compared to Median Income Averages

• +324% Above State Median Income
• +267% Above National Median Income

Doctors in Tennessee take home an average of $71.00 per hour. Annual earnings for Doctor's working in the State of Tennessee average $146,948 which is 324% above the state median income and 267% above the national median income for all occupations. Employment for a Doctor makes up just of the working population in Tennessee and is limited due to the specific qualifications required along with the schooling involved in this career path.

The increasing demand for qualified Doctors coupled with the educational barrier to entering the field is met with a steady supply of eager college graduates anxious to make a long-lasting impact in the lives of others in and around Tennessee.

Average Income for a Doctor in Tennessee

Tennessee Doctor

• Employment: 27,640
• Median Hourly Wage: $71.00
• Median Annual Wage: $146,948

State Average

• Employment: 2,864,040
• Median Hourly Wage: $16.76
• Median Annual Wage: $34,860

National Average

• Employment: 155,760,000
• Median Hourly Wage: $19.33
• Median Annual Wage: $35,977

Notes: Tuition & fee amounts are for both Tennessee in-state residents and out-of-state students unless noted otherwise. The tuition information displayed is an estimate, which we calculated based on historical data and should be solely used for informational purposes only. Please contact the respective doctoral school for information about the current school year.

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.