Average IQ in Tennessee: Estimates & Context
Estimated Avg IQ
~97
US Ranking
#39
of 50 states
Region
South
Note: No state administers IQ tests to its residents. These estimates are proxy conversions from standardized achievement scores (NAEP, SAT, ACT) — an approach popularized by McDaniel's 2006 state-IQ estimates in the journal Intelligence — combined with demographic data. Proxy conversions carry real limitations: SAT/ACT participation rates differ sharply by state and bias comparisons, and the variation within any state dwarfs the differences between states. Figures are shown rounded; decimal precision would overstate what these proxies can support. They say nothing about any individual resident.
About Tennessee's IQ Ranking
Tennessee is improving rapidly, driven by Nashville's booming healthcare, music, and technology sectors. Vanderbilt University anchors a growing knowledge economy. The state has invested in education reform and pre-K programs. However, rural Appalachian communities in eastern Tennessee and Memphis' struggling school districts pull the overall average down.
What Shapes Tennessee's Cognitive Profile
Tennessee Promise made the state the first to offer every high school graduate tuition-free community college in 2015, and the companion Reconnect program extended the offer to adults, lifting postsecondary enrollment measurably. The state also pioneered value-added assessment: the TVAAS system developed by William Sanders in the 1990s became the national model for estimating teacher effects on student growth. After winning the first federal Race to the Top grant in 2010, Tennessee posted some of the fastest NAEP gains in the country in 2013. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, home to the Frontier supercomputer, employs thousands of scientists east of Knoxville and ranks among the largest science facilities anywhere. Ford's BlueOval City megasite near Memphis is recasting West Tennessee's labor market around battery and vehicle production. Memphis schools, serving concentrated poverty, remain the hardest problem despite the much-studied Achievement School District turnaround effort. The estimated average has climbed from a low base for a decade.
For global context, see how the US compares in our United States IQ page and the full country rankings.
Tennessee vs Other South States
| State | Average IQ | US Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | ~97 | #39 |
| Virginia | ~102 | #9 |
| Maryland | ~102 | #12 |
| Texas | ~100 | #26 |
| North Carolina | ~99 | #28 |
| Florida | ~98 | #32 |
| Georgia | ~98 | #35 |
| Oklahoma | ~97 | #39 |
| South Carolina | ~96 | #41 |
| Kentucky | ~96 | #42 |
| Alabama | ~96 | #43 |
| West Virginia | ~96 | #44 |
| Louisiana | ~95 | #45 |
| Arkansas | ~95 | #46 |
| Mississippi | ~94 | #50 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average IQ in Tennessee?
Tennessee's estimated average IQ is 97.1, ranking #39. Nashville's growth and education reforms are driving improvement, though rural and Memphis-area challenges persist.
How is Nashville changing Tennessee?
Nashville has become one of America's fastest-growing cities, attracting healthcare, tech, and creative industry workers. Vanderbilt University provides a research anchor. This growth is gradually raising the state's overall educational profile.
How does Tennessee compare to other Southern states?
Tennessee (97.1) ranks in the middle of Southern states — above Mississippi (94.2) and Alabama (95.7) but below Virginia (101.9) and North Carolina (99.2).
Explore Other States
Take our free IQ test to see how you compare, or learn what IQ actually measures.
MyIQScores Editorial Team
Editorial team focused on cognitive testing & psychometrics research
Last updated
May 10, 2026
MyIQScores content is written and maintained by our editorial team using published research in cognitive psychology and psychometrics as its source base. We label estimates as estimates, link primary sources where available, correct errors when readers flag them, and update pages as research or feedback warrants — see our corrections policy.