Tennesse has 9 schools affiliated with NAIA that allows students to pursue any degree program and play a sport while on scholarship. They are known as NAIA schools and in this post, I have listed and discussed the NAIA schools in Tennesse for you to find the one that is a good fit for you.
There are about 80 universities and colleges in the city of Tennessee if you are looking to earn a degree. The schools are widely recognized for their world-class academic offerings in teaching and research. Whether you are looking for a beauty school or a culinary school, Tennessee has the best of the lot.
If you are also looking for a good medical school to enroll in, Tennessee has one of the best dental hygienist schools and accelerated nursing programs you can enroll in and get a nursing degree at a fast pace.
The NAIA stands for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. It is a collegiate athletics association for small colleges and universities in North America that oversees more than 77,000 student-athletes from over 250 colleges in the US and offers up to $800 million in scholarships annually.
If you are aspiring to be a student-athlete then an NAIA college will be best for you. Also, there are other soccer scholarships in the US that you can apply for if you are a student-athlete whose sport is soccer.
You can pursue academic degrees in agriculture and environment, architecture, business, education, communications, engineering, social sciences and law, and the arts alongside the different sports that the schools have to offer.
Every year, the NAIA sponsors more than 15 different sports in men, women, and co-ed categories and conducts 22 championships that are aired on major US sports channels. This opens up an opportunity for student-athletes to bring their talents to maximum capacity and catch the eye of big teams.
Since this article is going to be talking about the NAIA schools in Tennessee, we will delve right into these schools without wasting time.
NAIA Schools in Tennessee
Outlined below are the NAIA schools in Tennessee where aspiring student-athletes can pursue a degree and a sports career at the same time. All of these colleges are recognized by the NAIA and we have included the individual sports and other athletics games that are played at each of the colleges to find one that fits your passion. They are as follows;
- Fisk University
- Cumberland University
- Bryan College
- Bethel University
- Tennessee Wesleyan University
- Milligan University
- University of Tennessee Southern
- Johnson University
- Freed-Hardeman University
1. Fisk University
This is the first on the list of NAIA schools in Tennessee. Fisk University is a private, coed, four-year liberal arts College located in Nashville, Tennessee. It was founded in 1866 and named after Frederick Augustus Fisk, a 19th-century Methodist minister. Fisk’s outstanding faculty and students continue to enhance the University’s international reputation for academic excellence. Their scholars continue to make strides in all areas of the industry from Social Justice to the sciences.
A Fisk education prepares students to become beacons in servicing the community and well-rounded leaders and scholars in their respective fields. Fisk offers more than 20+ undergraduate and graduate programs in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Clinical Psychology with a bridge Master’s to Ph.D. programs through a partnership with Vanderbilt University. In combination with their programs, they participate in the following sports for men and women;
Sports for Men
- Basketball
- Golf
- Soccer
- Indoor Track and Field
- Outdoor Track and Field
- Cross Country
Sports for Women
- Basketball
- Golf
- Indoor Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Tennis
- Cross Country
- Gymnastics
Club Sports
- Cheer
- Dance-Ladies of R.A.G.E.
2. Cumberland University
This is the next on our list of NAIA schools in Tennessee. Cumberland University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
The university has an athletic training department that offers athletic training programs. These personnel are primarily responsible for the delivery of the health care system to all student-athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics at Cumberland University.
This health care includes prevention, evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, and management of injuries or illnesses sustained during practices or games, as well as on-site coverage of practices and games. Some of the sports they offer are as follows;
Sports for Men
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Cross Country
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
Sports for Women
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
Coed Sports
- Cheerleading
- Dance
- Esports
3. Bryan College
Bryan University is a private university in Tennessee that offers affordable and quality education to students from all over the world. It was founded in 1930, making it one of the oldest schools in Tennessee
The university has both undergraduate and graduate programs in five different fields: Accounting, Business Administration, Information Technology, Nursing, and Healthcare Management.
They also offer dual degree programs where you can earn both an Associate’s Degree and Bachelor’s Degree. The different sports they offer are as follows;
Sports for Men
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Golf
- Soccer
- TF/XC
Sports for Women
- Basketball
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- TF/XC
- Volleyball
Coed Sports
- Cheerleading
- Fishing
- Martial Art
- Shooting
4. Bethel University
Bethel University is a private, liberal arts university located in Sevierville, Tennessee. It was founded in 1842 as the Bethel Seminary by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America and offers a variety of degree programs for students to choose from, including undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
With more than 100 academic programs in two colleges, a graduate school, and a seminary, they are one of the most comprehensive, interdenominational Christian universities in the nation. Some of the sports they offer are as follows;
Sports for Men
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Tennis
- Soccer
- Golf
- Hockey
- Track and Field
Sports for Women
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Tennis
- Soccer
- Golf
- Hockey
- Softball
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
5. Tennessee Wesleyan University
This is the next on the list of NAIA schools in Tennessee. Tennessee Wesleyan University, which is located in Athens, Tennessee, is a private, coeducational university with a curriculum based on the liberal arts.
The school offers over 30 academic programs leading to bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees. You can also earn an associate degree or certificate in business or technology. They also participate in different sports for both men and women. These sports are listed below.
Sports for Men
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Track
- Volleyball
Sports for Women
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track
- Volleyball
Coed Sports
- Cheerleading
- Esports
6. Milligan University
This school was founded in 1887 and has since become a leading school for education, research, and service to the community.
Milligan University is located in Decatur, Tennessee. The school offers more than 100 programs at the undergraduate level and over 80 graduate programs. Apart from these programs that they offer, they also participate in numerous sports activities for both men and women. They are as follows;
Sports for Men
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Cross Country
- Cycling
- Esports
- Golf
- Soccer
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Triathlon
- Volleyball
Sports for Women
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Cheer
- Cross Country
- Cycling
- Dance
- Esports
- Flag Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Triathlon
- Volleyball
7. University of Tennessee Southern
This is a private, non-profit university located in Memphis, Tennessee. The school offers bachelor’s degrees in business management, education, and social work.
The school was founded in 1926 as a branch campus of the University of Tennessee and was named for Dr. Robert Neyland, who played football for the Volunteers and later served as the head coach from 1926 to 1969.
The University of Tennesse Southern Sports Medicine staff provides care for the student-athletes at the school. Care is provided through traditional athletic training services through emergency care, injury prevention, injury management, rehabilitation, and maintaining a healthy, athletic, and injury-free lifestyle. Their team is known as the Firehawks. The following sports are offered by the school;
Sports for Men
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Swimming
- Tennis
Sports for Women
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Cross Country
- Soccer
- Swimming
- Tennis
Coed Sports
- Clay Target
- Cheer
8. Johnson University
This is the next on our list of NAIA schools in Tennessee. They offer various associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degree programs, online programs, JU programs, and certificate programs.
Johnson University’s mission is to educate students about Christian ministries and other strategic vocations framed by the Great Commission in order to extend the kingdom of God among all nations. They participate in different sports for both men and women. Their team is known as the Royals. These sports are as follows;
Sports for Men
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Tennis
Sports for Women
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Volleyball
9. Freed-Hardeman University
Freed-Hardeman University is a private university located in Henderson, TN. It was founded in 1869 as the Freed-Hardeman College of Memphis, Tennessee, and was originally chartered as a school for black students.
In 1891, the institution became known as Freed-Hardeman University and began admitting white students. They offer different undergraduate and graduate courses and also combine this with different sports that are listed as follows;
Sports for Men
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- JV Baseball
- JV Soccer
Sports for Women
- Basketball
- Cheerleading
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- JV Basketball
- JV Soccer
- JV Softball
- JV Volleyball
Conclusion
These NAIA schools in Tennessee are some of the best, and you can enroll in any one of them and become a student-athlete while benefiting from their scholarship opportunities