Catholic School CompassTrue north for Catholic families.

Best Catholic schools in Tennessee

Catholic colleges

Sorted by Compass Score, highest first
RankSchoolCompass ScoreCompass Score: Catholic identity (75%) and academics (25%) for Catholic schools.FaithFaith: the average of the four faith pillars. Other colleges are graded on Catholic life on campus instead.AcademicsAcademic Excellence: a score from federal data on graduation, retention, test scores, faculty ratio, and spending. It never uses rankings or surveys.
1Christian Brothers UniversityCatholicCatholic college: federal data lists a Roman Catholic affiliation (or it has been verified as Catholic), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Memphis, TNCFaith: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.67CAcademics: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.64

Sorted by Compass Score, highest first

  1. 1
    Christian Brothers UniversityCatholicCatholic college: federal data lists a Roman Catholic affiliation (or it has been verified as Catholic), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Memphis, TN
    • FaithCFaith: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.67
    • AcademicsCAcademics: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.64

All Catholic colleges in Tennessee ›

Catholic life at other colleges

Sorted by Catholic Life Score, highest first
RankSchoolCatholic Life ScoreCatholic Life Score: the same measure we use for every college: campus Catholic life (75%) and academics (25%).Catholic lifeAcademicsAcademic Excellence: a score from federal data on graduation, retention, test scores, faculty ratio, and spending. It never uses rankings or surveys.Enrollment
1Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TNBCatholic life: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.75AAcademics: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.10013,456
2Belmont UniversityNashville, TNBCatholic life: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.80BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.798,862
3The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TNBCatholic life: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.79BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.7836,304
4Middle Tennessee State UniversityMurfreesboro, TNBCatholic life: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.74CAcademics: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.6120,183
5The University of Tennessee-MartinMartin, TNBCatholic life: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.74CAcademics: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.606,941
6Austin Peay State UniversityClarksville, TNBCatholic life: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.76DAcademics: Limited (grade D): 40 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.539,945
7University of MemphisMemphis, TNCCatholic life: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.68CAcademics: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.5821,736
8The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaChattanooga, TNCCatholic life: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.62CAcademics: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.5611,380

Sorted by Catholic Life Score, highest first

  1. 1
    Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN
    • Catholic lifeBCatholic life: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.75
    • AcademicsAAcademics: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.100
  2. 2
    Belmont UniversityNashville, TN
    • Catholic lifeBCatholic life: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.80
    • AcademicsBAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.79
  3. 3
    The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN
    • Catholic lifeBCatholic life: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.79
    • AcademicsBAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.78
  4. 4
    Middle Tennessee State UniversityMurfreesboro, TN
    • Catholic lifeBCatholic life: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.74
    • AcademicsCAcademics: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.61
  5. 5
    The University of Tennessee-MartinMartin, TN
    • Catholic lifeBCatholic life: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.74
    • AcademicsCAcademics: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.60
  6. 6
    Austin Peay State UniversityClarksville, TN
    • Catholic lifeBCatholic life: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.76
    • AcademicsDAcademics: Limited (grade D): 40 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.53
  7. 7
    University of MemphisMemphis, TN
    • Catholic lifeCCatholic life: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.68
    • AcademicsCAcademics: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.58
  8. 8
    The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN
    • Catholic lifeCCatholic life: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.62
    • AcademicsCAcademics: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.56

All other colleges in Tennessee ›

Catholic high schools

Sorted by Compass Score, highest first
RankSchoolCompass ScoreCompass Score: Catholic identity (75%) and academics (25%) for Catholic schools.FaithFaith: the average of the four faith pillars for Catholic high schools.AcademicsAcademic Excellence for high schools: the share of graduates who go to four-year colleges, and students per teacher.
1Pope John Paul II Preparatory SchoolHonor RollCatholic School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70.Hendersonville, TNAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.92BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.85
2Christian Brothers High SchoolHonor RollCatholic School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70.Memphis, TN · All-maleAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.91BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.71
3Father Ryan High SchoolRecommendedCompass Recommended: a Faith score of 80 or higher, at least three of the four pillars rated, and none below C (55). A school with an Academic Excellence score must also reach 80 on its Compass Score.Nashville, TNBFaith: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.84AAcademics: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.89

Sorted by Compass Score, highest first

  1. 1
    Pope John Paul II Preparatory SchoolHonor RollCatholic School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70.Hendersonville, TN
    • FaithAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.92
    • AcademicsBAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.85
  2. 2
    Christian Brothers High SchoolHonor RollCatholic School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70.Memphis, TN · All-male
    • FaithAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.91
    • AcademicsBAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.71
  3. 3
    Father Ryan High SchoolRecommendedCompass Recommended: a Faith score of 80 or higher, at least three of the four pillars rated, and none below C (55). A school with an Academic Excellence score must also reach 80 on its Compass Score.Nashville, TN
    • FaithBFaith: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.84
    • AcademicsAAcademics: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.89

All Catholic high schools in Tennessee ›