The University of Tennessee Southern is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Pulaski, Tennessee. It enrolls 864 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
61/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes21
Value63
Affordability71
Selectivity26
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 86.7%, The University of Tennessee Southern is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
86.7%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
905 – 1110
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyRequiredSAT or ACT scores must be submitted with the application.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether The University of Tennessee Southern is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
16.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending The University of Tennessee Southern 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 $12,798 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$12,798
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
36%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
27%
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
$10,924
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,300
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,500
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,595
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,595
Total Cost of Attendance
$24,750
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
$9,335
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,071
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,343
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,336
Over $110,000
$17,135
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
$24,77575%percentile
$34,24590%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 $11,000
↓ $10,500
No Pell $12,000
↓ $9,500
Dependent students $11,500
↓ $10,000
Independent students $9,500
↓ $12,000
Female students $14,000
↓ $7,500
Male students $8,250
↓ $13,250
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
35% of full-time students who enrolled at The University of Tennessee Southern graduate within six years, and 70% 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
70%
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 The University of Tennessee Southern earn a median of $38,924 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$38,924
Earning > $25K
64%
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
$31,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$44,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$30,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$37,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$44,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,900, about 29% 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 ↑
12.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 71% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
The University of Tennessee Southern is home to 864 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 41% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
864
Part-Time
7%
First-Generation
41%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 75.0%648
International 8.3%72
Hispanic 5.9%51
Black 5.3%46
Other 3.1%27
Asian 0.7%6
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at The University of Tennessee Southern. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantPulaski, Tennessee
Housing
Mostly residential390 beds on campus
Adult Learners
9%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
The University of Tennessee Southern offers
a varied set of programs:
19 distinct programs across
11 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 The University of Tennessee Southern is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$7,140
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$699,686
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$59,976
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
54 instructional faculty across 4 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
10
19%
$65,568
Associate Professors
12
22%
$61,867
Assistant Professors
20
37%
$59,368
Instructors
12
22%
$54,439
Pros & Cons of The University of Tennessee Southern
A quick at-a-glance summary of how The University of Tennessee Southern tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
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
Modest first-year retention
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, The University of Tennessee Southern 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 The University of Tennessee Southern
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about The University of Tennessee Southern.
Is The University of Tennessee Southern hard to get into?
The University of Tennessee Southern has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 86.7%.
What is the acceptance rate at The University of Tennessee Southern?
The University of Tennessee Southern has an acceptance rate of 86.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for The University of Tennessee Southern?
The middle 50% of admitted students at The University of Tennessee Southern scored between 905 and 1110 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 The University of Tennessee Southern?
The middle 50% of admitted students at The University of Tennessee Southern scored between 18 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does The University of Tennessee Southern cost?
The average net price after aid at The University of Tennessee Southern is $12,798 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is The University of Tennessee Southern worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,924 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,798 per year. That's roughly 3.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is The University of Tennessee Southern known for?
The University of Tennessee Southern is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Business Administration, Criminal Justice. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do The University of Tennessee Southern graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering The University of Tennessee Southern are $38,924, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is The University of Tennessee Southern accredited?
Yes. The University of Tennessee Southern is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend The University of Tennessee Southern?
The University of Tennessee Southern enrolls 864 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at The University of Tennessee Southern?
The University of Tennessee Southern graduates 35% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is The University of Tennessee Southern a public or private college?
The University of Tennessee Southern is a Public institution.
Where is The University of Tennessee Southern located?
The University of Tennessee Southern is located in Pulaski, Tennessee.
What programs does The University of Tennessee Southern offer?
The University of Tennessee Southern offers 19 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Business Administration, Criminal Justice.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at The University of Tennessee Southern?
The student-to-faculty ratio at The University of Tennessee Southern is 13:1, 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.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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