Carson-Newman University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Jefferson City, Tennessee. It enrolls 1,387 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
58/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes40
Value37
Affordability51
Selectivity27
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 90.5%, Carson-Newman University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
90.5%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
955 – 1215
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
19 – 25
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Carson-Newman University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
1.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Carson-Newman University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $20,251 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,251
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
33%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
46%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$34,700
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,800
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,107
Books & Supplies
$1,600
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,864
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,835
Total Cost of Attendance
$49,024
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$16,672
$30,001 – $48,000
$16,446
$48,001 – $75,000
$17,313
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,209
Over $110,000
$28,621
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$21,500Medianpercentile
$26,00075%percentile
$31,19090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,250
↓ $7,250
No Pell $15,000
↓ $6,500
Dependent students $15,000
↓ $6,500
Independent students $13,191
↓ $8,309
Female students $15,000
↓ $6,500
Male students $13,979
↓ $7,521
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($21,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
51% of full-time students who enrolled at Carson-Newman University graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
51%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
74%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Carson-Newman University earn a median of $48,382 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$48,382
Earning > $25K
76%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$36,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$41,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$40,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$41,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,100, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
18.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 86% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Carson-Newman University is home to 1,387 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 35% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,387
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
35%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 72.2%1,002
Black 10.3%143
Hispanic 5.7%79
International 5.7%79
Other 3.8%52
Asian 0.9%12
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Carson-Newman University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small SuburbJefferson City, Tennessee
Housing
Strongly residential1,147 beds for 1,387 students
Adult Learners
5%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Carson-Newman University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
54 distinct programs across
21 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Carson-Newman University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$119M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$55,373
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
122 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
30
25%
$59,689
Associate Professors
43
35%
$54,327
Assistant Professors
49
40%
$53,649
Pros & Cons of Carson-Newman University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Carson-Newman University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Carson-Newman University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Carson-Newman University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Carson-Newman University.
Is Carson-Newman University hard to get into?
Carson-Newman University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 90.5%.
What is the acceptance rate at Carson-Newman University?
Carson-Newman University has an acceptance rate of 90.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Carson-Newman University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Carson-Newman University scored between 955 and 1215 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Carson-Newman University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Carson-Newman University scored between 19 and 25 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Carson-Newman University cost?
The average net price after aid at Carson-Newman University is $20,251 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Carson-Newman University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $48,382 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,251 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Carson-Newman University known for?
Carson-Newman University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Educational Administration, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Carson-Newman University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Carson-Newman University are $48,382, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Carson-Newman University accredited?
Yes. Carson-Newman University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Carson-Newman University?
Carson-Newman University enrolls 1,387 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Carson-Newman University?
Carson-Newman University graduates 51% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Carson-Newman University a public or private college?
Carson-Newman University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Carson-Newman University located?
Carson-Newman University is located in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
What programs does Carson-Newman University offer?
Carson-Newman University offers 54 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Educational Administration, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Carson-Newman University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Carson-Newman University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Tennessee
Other colleges in Tennessee share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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