TN Tech – Tennessee Tech University is among only four public universities in the state named to the 2026 “America’s Top Colleges” list by Forbes.

The business magazine and website named Tech among the nation’s top 500 colleges and universities, noting that each of the ranked institutions “produces successful, high-earning and influential graduates from all economic backgrounds, with less student debt.”

Tech ranked among the top two public universities in Tennessee, outperforming competitors Middle Tennessee State University and University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. According to Forbes’ methodology, universities were ranked “based on return on investment, average student debt levels and outcomes for their graduates.”

Forbes also ranked Tech among the top 100 colleges in the South, top employers in Tennessee and top research universities in the country.

“Tennessee Tech is on an unmistakable upward climb, and we’re gratified to see external recognition of the success stories that are happening on this campus every day,” said Tech President Phil Oldham. “From our world-class academic programs to our comparatively lower tuition costs and our beautiful college town locale, there is a reason we continue to chart at the top of the rankings lists year after year.”

The recognition marks the latest in a series of high-profile honors for Tech. In recent months, Money.com named Tech the top public university in Tennessee, while SmartAsset ranked Tech as the number-one “best value” public university in the state and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission highlighted Tech for holding the highest freshmen retention rate, highest four-year graduation rate and highest incoming student ACT scores among all Locally Governed Institutions (LGIs) in the state in its 2025 Fact Book.

See Forbes’ full 2026 “America’s Top Colleges” list at https://www.forbes.com/top-colleges/.