Tennessee Wesleyan University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Athens, Tennessee. It enrolls 846 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
64/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes25
Value64
Affordability71
Selectivity44
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 68.9%, Tennessee Wesleyan University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
68.9%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
19 – 23
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 Tennessee Wesleyan University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
2.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Tennessee Wesleyan 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 $14,836 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,836
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
39%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
52%
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
$30,814
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,458
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,458
Books & Supplies
$1,400
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,500
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,500
Total Cost of Attendance
$39,440
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
$11,609
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,088
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,647
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,043
Over $110,000
$18,980
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.
$3,59110%percentile
$6,25025%percentile
$20,000Medianpercentile
$24,50075%percentile
$31,00090%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 $14,773
↓ $5,227
No Pell $12,500
↓ $7,500
Dependent students $13,000
↓ $7,000
Independent students $18,750
↓ $1,250
Female students $15,000
↓ $5,000
Male students $11,250
↓ $8,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,750, less than completers ($20,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
34% of full-time students who enrolled at Tennessee Wesleyan University graduate within six years, and 68% 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
68%
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 Wesleyan University earn a median of $45,989 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,989
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
$42,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$45,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$40,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$42,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$47,400
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 ↑
16.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Tennessee Wesleyan University is home to 846 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 41% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
846
Part-Time
7%
First-Generation
41%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 74.0%626
International 7.0%59
Hispanic 6.5%55
Black 4.9%41
Other 2.8%24
Asian 1.2%10
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Tennessee Wesleyan University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantAthens, Tennessee
Housing
Mostly residential446 beds on campus
Adult Learners
13%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Tennessee Wesleyan University offers
a varied set of programs:
33 distinct programs across
17 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 Tennessee Wesleyan University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$22M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$50,189
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
67 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
15
22%
$55,498
Associate Professors
15
22%
$51,557
Assistant Professors
33
49%
$48,440
Instructors
1
1%
$38,625
No Rank
3
4%
$39,900
Pros & Cons of Tennessee Wesleyan University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Tennessee Wesleyan University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Tennessee Wesleyan University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tennessee Wesleyan University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Tennessee Wesleyan University.
Is Tennessee Wesleyan University hard to get into?
Admissions at Tennessee Wesleyan University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 68.9%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Tennessee Wesleyan University?
Tennessee Wesleyan University has an acceptance rate of 68.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What ACT score do you need for Tennessee Wesleyan University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Tennessee Wesleyan University scored between 19 and 23 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Tennessee Wesleyan University cost?
The average net price after aid at Tennessee Wesleyan University is $14,836 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Tennessee Wesleyan University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,989 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,836 per year. That's roughly 3.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Tennessee Wesleyan University known for?
Tennessee Wesleyan University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Business Administration, Rehabilitation. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Tennessee Wesleyan University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Tennessee Wesleyan University are $45,989, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Tennessee Wesleyan University accredited?
Yes. Tennessee Wesleyan University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Tennessee Wesleyan University?
Tennessee Wesleyan University enrolls 846 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Tennessee Wesleyan University?
Tennessee Wesleyan University graduates 34% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Tennessee Wesleyan University a public or private college?
Tennessee Wesleyan University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Tennessee Wesleyan University located?
Tennessee Wesleyan University is located in Athens, Tennessee.
What programs does Tennessee Wesleyan University offer?
Tennessee Wesleyan University offers 33 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Business Administration, Rehabilitation.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Tennessee Wesleyan University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Tennessee Wesleyan 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.
Business Administration
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Business Administration
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