Fisk University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Nashville, Tennessee. It enrolls 1,035 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.
Fair
51/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes23
Value5
Affordability49
Selectivity71
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 37.4%, Fisk University is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
37.4%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1140 – 1510
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
19 – 24
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 Fisk University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
35.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Fisk 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 $32,020 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$32,020
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
52%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
53%
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
$25,858
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,540
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,500
Books & Supplies
$2,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,500
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,500
Total Cost of Attendance
$39,450
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
$27,647
$30,001 – $48,000
$32,474
$48,001 – $75,000
$34,204
$75,001 – $110,000
$34,974
Over $110,000
$26,678
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.
$5,50010%percentile
$10,50025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$32,50075%percentile
$40,50090%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 $14,055
↓ $12,945
No Pell $21,500
↓ $5,500
Dependent students $14,250
↓ $12,750
Independent students $14,250
↓ $12,750
Female students $16,000
↓ $11,000
Male students $12,000
↓ $15,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,000, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
35% of full-time students who enrolled at Fisk University graduate within six years, and 73% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
35%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
73%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Fisk University earn a median of $45,454 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,454
Earning > $25K
72%
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
$36,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$36,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$33,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$41,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$32,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
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.
Stable ↑
3.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 53% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Fisk University is home to 1,035 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
1,035
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
27%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 79.2%820
Asian 6.9%71
Other 1.5%15
Hispanic 0.8%8
White 0.1%1
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Fisk University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityNashville, Tennessee
Housing
Strongly residential894 beds for 1,035 students
Adult Learners
3%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
What You Can Study
Fisk University offers
a varied set of programs:
18 distinct programs across
13 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 Fisk University is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$170M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$52,653
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
69 instructional faculty across 6 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
11
16%
$63,197
Associate Professors
25
36%
$50,972
Assistant Professors
16
23%
$60,592
Instructors
9
13%
$36,833
Lecturers
1
1%
$52,500
No Rank
7
10%
$44,306
Pros & Cons of Fisk University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Fisk University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Fisk University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fisk University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Fisk University.
Is Fisk University hard to get into?
Fisk University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 37.4%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Fisk University?
Fisk University has an acceptance rate of 37.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Fisk University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Fisk University scored between 1140 and 1510 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 Fisk University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Fisk University scored between 19 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Fisk University cost?
The average net price after aid at Fisk University is $32,020 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Fisk University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,454 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $32,020 per year. That's roughly 1.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Fisk University known for?
Fisk University is best known for its programs in Biology, Business, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Fisk University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Fisk University are $45,454, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Fisk University accredited?
Yes. Fisk University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Fisk University?
Fisk University enrolls 1,035 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Fisk University?
Fisk University graduates 35% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Fisk University a public or private college?
Fisk University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Fisk University located?
Fisk University is located in Nashville, Tennessee.
What programs does Fisk University offer?
Fisk University offers 18 distinct programs. The most popular include Biology, Business, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Fisk University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Fisk University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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