Atop the list of public schools in Chattanooga is a branch of the University of Tennessee, founded in 1886. Although the institution's main campus in Knoxville has a student body of well over 20,000, the Chattanooga campus is home to close to 11,000 students. It's part of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, also known as the SACS, and offers a liberal arts education with an array of programs for undergraduates, including degrees in science, business and art. The university's athletic teams, known as the "Mocs," participate in basketball, baseball and football, among other sports. As with many state colleges, there's a large collection of fraternities on campus, with more than 25 different Greek house chapters.
Not to be confused with Temple University in Philadelphia, the smaller-sized Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga is one of the town's private all-Christian institutions. While the school, founded in 1946, describes its academic program as a "Christ-centered education," the undergraduate program, at least, falls under the general liberal arts education umbrella, as bachelor's degrees available include science, history, English, and mathematics. The university's graduate school, however, known as Temple Baptist Seminary, focuses solely on Christian theology, with master's programs in ministry, divinity and biblical studies.
Chattanooga State, nicknamed "the College on the River," is the city's largest community college, with a student body of roughly 11,000. The campus is extensive, covering more than 150 acres of city land, which is nearly 50 acres larger than the University of Tennessee Chattanooga campus. Like UTC, Chattanooga State is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. As far as academics, Chattanooga State provides an array of degrees in areas such diverse areas as engineering, business, nursing and social services. Although the school is technically a community college, Chattanooga State features NCAA Division I teams in both men's and women's basketball and baseball/softball.
Not to be confused with Chattanooga State College, Chattanooga College, which was founded in 1968, runs a program based strictly around medical and dental education, as well as technology development within those fields. The school, which offers a two-year degree, provides training for those looking to get work in those particular areas. Chattanooga College has received accreditation from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, as well as authorization from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.
