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.
Tennessee State University is a public, historically black land-grant institution in Nashville that operates with an open-access mission, admitting the vast majority of its applicants. Its character is defined by a practical, career-oriented curriculum—strong in business, health professions, and engineering—set within a predominantly residential, Greek-life-heavy campus culture. While graduation rates are a persistent challenge, the university positions itself as a critical engine of social mobility, offering a relatively low net price for students who navigate its path to a degree.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
4,848
In-state tuition
$8,616
Out-of-state tuition
$22,416
Graduation Rate
34%
On-Campus Housing
71% of students
Median Earnings (10yr)
$42,730
First-Year Retention Rate
62%
Students Receiving Grant/Scholarship Aid
77.79%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$42,730
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.7×
Median debt at graduation
$27,000
Graduation rate
34%
First-year retention
34%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
31%
Pell (lower-income) share
51%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
37%
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Mechanical Engineering$64,990
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$61,020
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$58,673
Civil Engineering$58,221
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians$47,260
Computer Science
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
5
Per 1,000 students
0.82
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
81
Summer high
88°F
Winter low
34°F
Annual rain
75.5"
Annual snow
5.1"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
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
175
Scholarly works
7,594
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
2.9%
Bottom → top quintile
16%
From bottom quintile
18%
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 Tennessee State University?
Tennessee State University's acceptance rate is approximately 70% (Nashville, TN), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Tennessee State University?
Admitted students at Tennessee State University typically score 880–1050 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Tennessee State University cost?
At Tennessee State University, the average net price (after aid) is about $15,796 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Tennessee State University?
Tennessee State University enrolls approximately 4,848 undergraduate students.
Where is Tennessee State University located?
Tennessee State University is located in Nashville, TN.
Admissions
Tennessee State University maintains a highly accessible admissions process, reflecting its public, land-grant mission. The university is not selective, with an of 70%. For freshmen under 21, the baseline requirement is a 2.50 cumulative weighted GPA and a 19 ACT or 900 SAT score (verbal and math only); applicants with a 3.2 GPA and submitted test scores are granted guaranteed admission. The middle 50% SAT range for admitted students is 880–1050, with a corresponding ACT range of 16–21. A significant portion of admitted students present solid high school GPAs, with 24% reporting a 3.75 or higher and 19% reporting a 3.50–3.74. The university does not appear to offer an Early Decision program, and sources do not indicate that demonstrated interest is a considered factor in admissions decisions. The primary deadline for consideration is January 1.
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.
$42,728
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions$42,682
Accounting and Related Services$42,235
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.
TSU’s academic profile is intensely pragmatic, built around majors that lead directly to careers. The most popular undergraduate programs are Business Administration and Management, General, and Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, which anchor a curriculum designed to develop 'skills needed for the real world.' Students are 'immersed in research, service learning, and student life activities,' with notable strength in fields like biotechnology. The university offers a range of degrees through its colleges, including the College of Professional Studies. Instruction comes from what the university describes as 'top-notch faculty,' and students frequently engage in cutting-edge studies. While the Princeton Review cites an average graduate earning figure of $66,000, this is not a median salary and should be viewed as a general benchmark rather than a precise outcome.
Life at TSU is overwhelmingly campus-centric, with 71% of students living in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing. This creates a tight-knit, residential community that students describe as a 'second family away from home,' where they take pride in their university. The campus culture is activity-rich, featuring a strong Greek life presence with fraternities like Kappa Alpha Psi, alongside numerous leadership organizations. The Office of Student Activities & Leadership facilitates internships, cultural events, and study abroad opportunities, aiming to complement classroom instruction. The vibe, as captured in student-produced content, is one of belonging and school spirit, central to the HBCU experience in a major city like Nashville.
Graduation rates represent the most significant challenge and focal point for Tennessee State University. The four-year graduation rate is 22%, meaning only about 1 in 5 students earn their degree on time. The six-year graduation rate is 33%, which is noted as slightly below the national average. There is a gender disparity in these outcomes: male students graduate at a rate of 27%, while females graduate at a higher but still low rate of 36%. The university has publicly stated a 'student achievement goal of meeting or exceeding' comparison scores. Post-graduation, median earnings data varies by source; one reports a median salary of $34,160 six years after graduation, while another cites a median alumni salary of $36,092. The university's own data shows a six-year graduation rate (150% of time) that is tracked for improvement.
Tennessee State University is a relatively affordable public institution, especially after financial aid is applied. The average —the cost after grants and scholarships are deducted—is $15,796. A significant majority of students receive financial aid, with 77.79% of full-time beginning undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid, and the average aid package is $15,107. The university provides net price calculators to help families estimate their actual cost, stating that financial aid is 'designed to assist only (not fully fund) your educational expenses.' Aid packages include non-need-based self-help aid like loans and jobs for which a student need not demonstrate financial need. There is no indication in the provided sources that TSU meets full demonstrated financial need or has a no-loan policy for low-income students.
Tennessee State University stands out as a classic, urban HBCU with a straightforward mission: to provide broad access to a career-focused education. It doesn't chase prestige through selectivity; instead, it opens its doors widely, particularly to Tennessee students, and bets on providing the practical tools for upward mobility. Its identity is rooted in its vibrant, residential campus life—a hallmark of the HBCU experience—set within the dynamic city of Nashville. The university's defining challenge is also its core opportunity: improving student success rates. For students who thrive within its supportive community and engage deeply with its applied programs, TSU can be a powerful launchpad. It’s a university judged not by who it turns away, but by who it lifts up, making it a vital institution within the state's higher education landscape.
