Trevecca Nazarene University has earned elite classifications at the local, state and national levels, including the distinction of Middle Tennessee’s top Christian university, based on its ranking in the Wall Street Journal’s 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S. list published this week.
Ranked second only to Vanderbilt among colleges and universities in Middle Tennessee, Trevecca earned a national ranking of 372, making it the highest-ranked Nazarene school in the U.S. and fifth among all schools in Tennessee.
“We are honored to be recognized on a broad scale for our overall strength as a university and the value we offer for a quality education,” Trevecca Provost Dr. Tom Middendorf said. “I truly believe this ranking is a reflection of our commitment to educating undergraduate students with a holistic perspective and a supportive campus community.”
According to the rankings, Trevecca is also the fourth-highest-rated private undergraduate institution in Tennessee. A total of 14 Tennessee schools were among the 500 colleges and universities on the list.
The rankings are presented by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), College Pulse and Statista, the leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The award list was announced on September 4, 2024, and can be viewed on the WSJ website.
The Best Colleges in the U.S. ranks undergraduate institutions by the value they provide to their students. This value is assessed based on the learning environment, years to pay off the net price, degree completion rates, the likelihood of higher salaries post-graduation and diversity. The results are derived from official data from the U.S. Department of Education and the Census Bureau, along with a nationwide survey of undergraduate students and recent alumni who graduated within the past five years.
In one of the largest-ever independent surveys of verified college students in the U.S., around 110,000 undergraduates and recent undergraduate alumni were anonymously surveyed by College Pulse in cooperation with The Wall Street Journal and Statista. The survey covered topics like career preparation, learning opportunities, and campus life. The ranking combines students’ experience in a learning environment with an exhaustive analysis of student outcomes.
Statista publishes hundreds of worldwide industry rankings and company listings with high-profile media partners. This research and analysis service is based on the success of statista.com, the leading data and business intelligence portal that provides statistics, relevant business data, and various market and consumer studies and surveys.
Trevecca Nazarene University (www.trevecca.edu) is a Christian university in the heart of Nashville focused on preparing students for lives of leadership and service. Founded in 1901, Trevecca is committed to holistic education that encourages students to grow intellectually, socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually. With students from 47 states and 40 countries, Trevecca offers 17 associate degrees, 79 undergraduate majors, 22 master’s programs and 4 doctoral programs as well as specialist and certificate programs.