Admit rate has ranged 68%–94% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) is a public university in Murfreesboro that combines accessibility with strong regional workforce ties—one in six Nashville-area college graduates holds an MTSU degree. Known for its sprawling academic catalog (300+ majors) and commuter-heavy campus vibe, it offers practical programs like actuarial science and animation alongside traditional business and performing arts strengths. With a 68-69% acceptance rate and median post-grad earnings of $36,427, it’s a pragmatic choice for Tennessee students seeking value.
Admission requirements
Test scores required
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Considered (not required)
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
16,301
In-state tuition
$10,266
Out-of-state tuition
$31,574
Top Majors
Business, Psychology, Biology
Alumni Network
70,000+ in Nashville region
Acceptance Rate
68-69%
4-Year Grad Rate
36%
Noteworthy Programs
Actuarial Science, Animation
Student-Faculty Ratio
17:1
Median Earnings (1 Yr)
$36,427
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$48,541
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.6×
Median debt at graduation
$20,000
Graduation rate
54%
First-year retention
80%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
50%
Pell (lower-income) share
68%
First-generation share
36%
Endowment / student
$9,425
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Construction Management$66,541
Engineering-Related Fields$58,943
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$55,061
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
88
Summer high
88°F
Winter low
36°F
Annual rain
69.2"
Annual snow
6.1"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
190
Scholarly works
10,019
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.1%
Bottom → top quintile
17%
From bottom quintile
6%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Middle Tennessee State University?
Middle Tennessee State University's acceptance rate is approximately 69% (Murfreesboro, TN), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Middle Tennessee State University?
Admitted students at Middle Tennessee State University typically score 1010–1230 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Middle Tennessee State University cost?
At Middle Tennessee State University, the average net price (after aid) is about $13,359 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Middle Tennessee State University?
Middle Tennessee State University enrolls approximately 16,301 undergraduate students.
Where is Middle Tennessee State University located?
Middle Tennessee State University is located in Murfreesboro, TN.
Admissions
MTSU maintains an accessible admissions process with a 68-69% acceptance rate, admitting roughly 10,356 of 14,989 applicants annually. The university doesn’t emphasize early decision or early action programs, focusing instead on rolling admissions. While test scores are considered, the middle 50% of admitted students’ ACT ranges aren’t publicly specified—suggesting a Holistic admissionsA review that weighs the whole applicant — grades, essays, activities, and context — rather than relying on test scores and GPA alone. process. Notably, the gender balance skews slightly female (56% women vs. 44% men in recent cohorts).
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$46,193
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences$44,971
Accounting and Related Services$44,765
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Academics
MTSU’s academic identity hinges on breadth and regional relevance, offering 300+ majors with particular strengths in business, performing arts, and interdisciplinary studies. The most popular majors include Business Administration (238+ graduates annually), Psychology (277+), and Biology. Standout niche programs like Actuarial Science and Animation—highlighted by the university as ‘noteworthy’—cater to specialized career paths. With a 17:1 student-faculty ratio, MTSU leans toward larger classes but emphasizes its role as Nashville’s top workforce feeder: 1 in 6 local college grads holds an MTSU degree, and the university counts 70,000+ alumni in the region.
Life at MTSU is commuter-dominated, with students noting the challenge of building friendships amid a ‘transient population’ (per Reddit discussions). The university actively counters this with initiatives like Campus Life, a centralized hub for events, clubs, and Greek life (21+ fraternities/sororities). While on-campus housing exists, most students live off-campus, contributing to a weekday-centric vibe. The Instagram-driven @mtsucampuslife account promotes activities ranging from intramural sports to counseling services, though social energy often requires proactive engagement.
MTSU graduates earn a median salary of $36,427 one year post-graduation, rising to $39,941 by six years. The four-year graduation rate sits at 36%, with the six-year rate climbing to 54%—reflecting the commuter student body’s extended timelines. The university prioritizes bachelor’s degree production (22.5% weighting in state funding metrics), aligning with its role as a career-launching pad for Middle Tennessee. Notably, outcomes vary by major: business and STEM graduates likely outearn peers in arts and humanities.
MTSU’s average net price is $12,700/year after aid, with financial packages averaging $9,093. The university’s Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator shows stark income-based disparities: students from families earning under $30K pay ~$21,384 annually, while those over $110K face higher costs. Tennessee’s low tuition for in-state students helps, but the commuter model shifts expenses to housing and transportation. Aid options include work-study and scholarships, though competitive awards are limited.
MTSU’s singular advantage is its Nashville adjacency, funneling graduates into Tennessee’s booming job market—especially in business, healthcare, and entertainment. Unlike more selective peers, it welcomes B/C+ students without pretension, offering pragmatic majors (e.g., Concrete Industry Management) alongside conventional degrees. The commuter culture isn’t for everyone, but scrappy students who leverage internships and campus resources can graduate with minimal debt and strong regional networks.
Middle Tennessee State University logo · sourceCampus Planning · sourceMiddle Tennessee State University – ISEP Study Abroad · sourceMTSU Virtual Campus Tour · source
