Colleges and Universities in the
Smoky Mountains and Greater Knoxville Region

No place to live is complete without access to colleges and universities.This region has an outstanding public university and community college system, as well as excellent private colleges and schools. And, if that is not enough, you are within half a day driving distance of number of the top-rated colleges and universities in the United States. These universities, colleges, and schools help make East Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains great places to live, to retire, to work, to raise a family, and just enjoy life.

Public Institutions located in the Region-

University of Tennessee at Knoxville

The University of Tennessee offers the highest quality instruction, research, andoutreach programs throughout the state of Tennessee. Undergraduate, graduate, and professional education merge seamlessly with the exploration of new knowledge and dissemination of practical information and technology to the state and its citizens. With 26,000 students in Knoxville, UTK provides a wide range of academic and professional degrees from the bachelor to the doctorate level. Comprehensive information on UTK is available at the UT web site.

Community Colleges

The region has three community colleges, which serve to provide both vocational instruction for associate degrees and provide the first two years of academic preparation for bachelor degrees at 4-year colleges. Credits from relevant courses at community colleges are usually transferable to the 4-year institutions. The community colleges do an excellent job at transitioning students to higher education. They are modest in cost, making them excellent values for young people as well as adults who want to achieve higher level skills.

Pellissippi State Technical Community College

Pellissippi State, located in West Knox County, has 7000 students and a diverse offering of subject matter. The college has three branches, at Division Street in Knoxville, on Magnolia Avenue in Knoxville, and in Alcoa, which serves Blount County and Maryville, Tennessee.

Walters State Community College

Walters State Community College, with a main campus in Morristown, Tennessee, has branches in our region at Sevierville (Sevier County serving Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, as well)and also in Cocke County. Walters State has over 6000 students and teaches classes in every county in its serice area.

Roane State Community College

Roane State Community College, with a main campus in Harriman, Tennessee, has branches in our region at Lenoir City (Loudon County) and Oak Ridge and a health sciences center in West Knox County.  Roane State has approximately 5000 students. 

Private Colleges

Private Colleges in the region include:

Carson-Newman College, located in Jefferson City Tennessee
Knoxville College, located in Knoxville
Maryville College, located in Maryville
South College, located in Knoxville

Top universities accessible to the region 

Residents of the Smoky Mountains and Greater Knoxville region have access to additional top rated universities located within easy driving distance (6 hours or less) of the region.  Those include:

University of Alabama, located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Auburn University, located in Auburn, Alabama
Clemson University, located in Clemson, South Carolina
Emory University, located in Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia Tech, located in Atlanta, Georgia
University of Georgia, located in Athens, Georgia
Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, Tennessee
Virginia Tech, located in Blacksburg, Virginia
Wake Forest University, located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina