Nashville is the capital and largest city of Tennessee. The city has almost 700,000 people and has been named the friendliest city for three years in a row. Nashville is also known as “Music City, U.S.A.” because it is home to Grand Ole Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and many major record labels. In addition to music, visitors to Nashville visit Civil War battlegrounds, art centers, museums, and eat the great food. Some of the popular foods in Nashville include hot chicken, hot fish, barbecue, and meat and three (choice of one meat and three side dishes).

Nashville is also known as “Athens of the South” because the area is home to 24 post-secondary educational institutions. Below are some of the colleges that are located within the city of Nashville.

Belmont University
Type: Private, Liberal Arts
Established: 1890
Affiliation: Christian (nondenominational)
Enrollment: 6,293 undergraduate students (Fall 2016)
Student-to-faculty ratio: 13 to 1 (Fall 2016)
Acceptance rate: 81% (Fall 2016)
Belmont is one of the fastest growing Christian universities in the United States with more than 8,000 students (undergraduate and graduate students). Belmont students come from all 50 states and more than 25 countries. Belmont offers more than 90 areas of undergraduate study. Some of the most popular majors include Business, Nursing, and Music Management. Students at Belmont have a lot to do on campus with over 160 student organizations, 17 NCAA Division I athletic teams, intramural sports, and on-campus worship services.

Fisk University
Type: Private, Historically Black College and University (HBCU)
Established: 1866
Affiliation: United Church of Christ
Enrollment: 723 undergraduate students (Fall 2016)
Student-to-faculty ratio: 11 to 1 (Fall 2016)
Acceptance rate: 78% (Fall 2016)
Fisk was founded shortly after the end of the Civil War and is the oldest institution of higher learning in Nashville. Fisk is a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and is still a predominately black campus with 83% of the students identifying as African-American or Black. Fisk has a longstanding legacy of excellence and have great accomplishments in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Business. Fisk offers its students over 50 student organizations and the Office of Student Engagement offers lectures, movies, sports, and volunteer opportunities every week.

Lipscomb University
Type: Private, Liberal Arts
Established: 1891
Affiliation: Churches of Christ
Enrollment: 2,656 undergraduate students (Fall 2016)
Student-to-faculty ratio: 12 to 1 (Fall 2016)
Acceptance rate: 61% (Fall 2016)
Lipscomb is a Christian university that offers 176 fields of undergraduate study and several pre-professional programs. Popular programs at Lipscomb include Business, Education, Nursing, and Psychology. Students come from 49 states and 47 countries. While the college is affiliated with the Churches of Christ, 32 religious preferences are represented on campus. The campus community comes together to pray, worship, study the Bible, and put their faith in action on a regular basis. Lipscomb is proud to share that more than 90% of graduates are working or pursuing graduate school within six months of graduation.

Tennessee State University
Type: Public, Land-Grant, Historically Black College and University (HBCU)
Established: 1912
Enrollment: 7,014 undergraduate students (Fall 2016)
Student-to-faculty ratio: 15 to 1 (Fall 2016)
Acceptance rate: 53% (Fall 2016)
While TSU is a public university, the college enrolls students from 46 states and 45 countries. TSU graduates the highest number of African-American bachelor degree holders in agriculture, agriculture operations, and agriculture-related sciences. In addition to agriculture-related majors, TSU offers 77 majors. Some of the more popular majors include Business, Communication, Criminal Justice, Education, Nursing, and Psychology. One of the most famous graduates of TSU is Oprah Winfrey.

Trevecca Nazarene University
Type: Private, Liberal Arts
Established: 1901
Affiliation: Nazarene
Enrollment: 1,156 traditional undergraduate students (Fall 2016)
Student-to-faculty ratio: 18 to 1 (Fall 2016)
Acceptance rate: 72% (Fall 2016)
As a Christian university, Trevecca believes faith should be the center of all things. Students from many religious backgrounds make up the campus community, including Nazarene, Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, and more. The whole campus community comes together multiple times a week to worship, learn, praise and grow in chapel. Trevecca offers nine campus ministries, 35 chapel opportunities and international mission trips. The university has 88 undergraduate majors with the most popular majors being Business, Health Professions, and Ministry.

Vanderbilt University
Type: Private, Research University
Established: 1873
Enrollment: 6,817 undergraduate students (Fall 2016)
Student-to-faculty ratio: 8 to 1 (Fall 2016)
Acceptance rate: 11% (Fall 2016)
Vanderbilt offers undergraduate programs in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, music, education, and human development. While college rankings should not play much of a role in your decision, Vanderbilt is on many prestigious lists. In addition, Princeton Review named Vanderbilt first in College City Students Love and second for happiest students. Vanderbilt offers over 500 student organizations related to sports, philosophy, performing arts, hobbies, community service, sororities and fraternities, and professional development.

Watkins College of Art, Design & Film
Type: Private, Art & Design
Established: 1885
Enrollment: 251 undergraduate students (Fall 2016)
Student-to-faculty ratio: 10 to 1 (Fall 2016)
Acceptance rate: 97%
Watkins is a college of the visual arts offering BFA degrees in fine arts, film, photography, graphic design, and interior design, as well as a BA degree in art. On-campus housing is required for first-time freshman who are under the age of 20 and whose permanent address is 50 or more miles from the campus. Unlike the regular residence halls many colleges offer, Watkins offers four-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments located on the campus next to the lake. In addition to major requirements, Watkins requires 60 credit hours of general education courses.

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