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Tennessee State University

Public Graduate Good 57/100

Tennessee State University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Nashville, Tennessee

About Tennessee State University

Tennessee State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Nashville, Tennessee. It enrolls 4,848 students (a mid-sized 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.

Official website: tnstate.edu

Acceptance: 70.1%
Graduation: 33.9%
Net Price: $15,796
Median Earnings (10yr): $42,730
Enrollment: 4,848
Student : Faculty: 13:1

Accreditor Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Academic Calendar Semester

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

57/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 7

Value 50

Affordability 78

Selectivity 35

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 70.1%, Tennessee State University is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate

70.1%

Moderate

SAT Range (25th–75th)

880 – 1050

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

16 – 21

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Required SAT or ACT scores must be submitted with the application.

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Tennessee State 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 $15,796 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$15,796

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

51%

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 (in-state): $8,616
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $22,416
Room & Board (on-campus): $11,150
Room & Board (off-campus): $18,456
Books & Supplies: $1,600
Other Expenses (on-campus): $5,811
Other Expenses (off-campus): $6,494
Total Cost of Attendance: $25,637

Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)

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

$15,005
$30,001 – $48,000

$15,840
$48,001 – $75,000

$15,579
$75,001 – $110,000

$20,624
Over $110,000

$20,099

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.

$3,500

10% percentile

$5,500

25% percentile

$27,000

Median percentile

$30,319

75% percentile

$44,783

90% 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 $18,750 ↓ $8,250

No Pell $13,000 ↓ $14,000

Dependent students $17,500 ↓ $9,500

Independent students $17,250 ↓ $9,750

Female students $18,327 ↓ $8,673

Male students $15,750 ↓ $11,250

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

34% of full-time students who enrolled at Tennessee State University graduate within six years, and 52% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

34%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

52%

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 Tennessee State University earn a median of $42,730 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$42,730

Earning > $25K

70%

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

$38,800

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$41,700

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$36,000

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$42,400

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$42,900

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.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 21.2 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Moderate. Only 59% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Tennessee State University is home to 4,848 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 37% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

4,848

Part-Time

First-Generation

37%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

Black 85.1% 4,123

White 4.4% 212

Hispanic 3.1% 148

Other 2.8% 135

International 2.3% 109

Asian 0.6% 28

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Tennessee State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large City Nashville, Tennessee

Housing

Strongly residential 3,662 beds for 4,848 students

Adult Learners

8% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Historically Black College / University (HBCU)

What You Can Study

Tennessee State University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 70 distinct programs across 22 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.

13 Programs

Health

Health Professions $68K ($48K–$89K)
Public Health $59K ($42K–$79K)
Rehabilitation $56K ($40K–$74K)

5 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)

5 Programs

Public Administration

Public Administration $65K ($47K–$87K)
Public Administration $65K ($47K–$87K)
Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)

7 Programs

Engineering

Electrical Engineering $101K ($85K–$122K)
Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)
Civil Engineering $87K ($74K–$101K)

1 Program

Communication

Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)

2 Programs

Computer Science

Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)
Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Tennessee State University is 13:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

13:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$15,538

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$100M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$77,338

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

374 instructional faculty across 5 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	100	27%	$96,326
Associate Professors	106	28%	$79,421
Assistant Professors	130	35%	$71,218
Instructors	34	9%	$41,910
No Rank	4	1%	$47,414

Pros & Cons of Tennessee State University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Tennessee State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Below-average net price
Reasonable class sizes
Wide reach of need-based federal aid

CONS

Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical

Frequently Asked Questions about Tennessee State University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Tennessee State University.

Is Tennessee State University hard to get into?

Admissions at Tennessee State University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 70.1%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.

What is the acceptance rate at Tennessee State University?

Tennessee State University has an acceptance rate of 70.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Tennessee State University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Tennessee State University scored between 880 and 1050 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 Tennessee State University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Tennessee State University scored between 16 and 21 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Tennessee State University cost?

The average net price after aid at Tennessee State University is $15,796 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Tennessee State University worth it?

Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,730 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,796 per year. That's roughly 2.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Tennessee State University known for?

Tennessee State University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Educational Administration, Communication & Media. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Tennessee State University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Tennessee State University are $42,730, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Tennessee State University accredited?

Yes. Tennessee State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

How many students attend Tennessee State University?

Tennessee State University enrolls 4,848 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Tennessee State University?

Tennessee State University graduates 34% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Tennessee State University a public or private college?

Tennessee State University is a Public institution.

Where is Tennessee State University located?

Tennessee State University is located in Nashville, Tennessee.

What programs does Tennessee State University offer?

Tennessee State University offers 70 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Educational Administration, Communication & Media.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Tennessee State University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Tennessee State University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.