University of Memphis

The University of Memphis traces its roots to 1912, when it opened as West Tennessee State Normal School to train teachers, evolving through name changes into a comprehensive public research university serving over 19,000 undergraduates today. Students who thrive here lean practical and career-focused, often juggling classes with part-time jobs or family commitments in a diverse, first-generation-heavy environment. The campus pulses with Memphis energy—blues clubs and barbecue joints just blocks away—while the surrounding city's low cost of living makes it accessible, though humid summers and urban sprawl mean commuting can eat into free time.