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, a public HBCU in Nashville, blends rigorous academics with a vibrant campus culture. Known for its strong programs in business, health sciences, and agriculture, TSU offers an accessible education with a 70% acceptance rate and a tight-knit community where leadership and Greek life thrive.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
4,848
In-state tuition
$8,616
Out-of-state tuition
$22,416
HBCU Rank
#26 (U.S. News)
Popular Majors
Business, Health Professions, Agriculture
Acceptance Rate
70%
4-Year Grad Rate
20%
6-Year Grad Rate
33%
Financial Aid Recipients
82% of first-years
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
81%
First-generation share
37%
Endowment / student
$23,785
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
1.03
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 an accessible admissions process with a 70% acceptance rate, welcoming a diverse range of students. Applicants typically submit SAT scores between 900–1030 or ACT scores between 16–21, with a 2.5 GPA as the baseline requirement. Those with a 3.2 GPA or higher are virtually guaranteed admission. The university processes around 9,773 applications annually, with 6,859 accepted and 5,057 enrolling. The regular application deadline is August 1, though early admission is available for high-achieving students.
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.
Academics
TSU offers 41 bachelor’s degrees, 23 master’s programs, and 8 doctoral degrees, classified as an R2 research institution (high doctoral activity). Popular majors include Business Administration, Health Professions, and Agricultural Sciences, with niche strengths in Aerospace and Biochemistry. The university ranks 26th among HBCUs nationally, though its overall National Universities ranking falls between 395–435. Programs like Physical Therapy boast a 95.5% graduation rate for recent cohorts, reflecting rigorous professional training. Weekend, night, and online options cater to non-traditional students.
Life at TSU pulses with Greek life (including Kappa Alpha Psi), leadership organizations, and cultural events. The Office of Student Activities designs programming to boost retention, from internships to study abroad. Residence halls foster tight communities, with one student noting, 'Our dorms are where ideas and friendships grow.' A typical day starts early, balancing classes with campus events—think pep rallies, research symposia, and Nashville’s music scene. The university emphasizes ‘Excellence is our Habit’, blending academic rigor with Southern hospitality.
TSU’s 4-year graduation rate sits at 20%, below the national average, though the 6-year rate climbs to 33%. Business graduates earn a median $38,743 early-career salary. The Physical Therapy program reports a 100% licensure rate for 2024 graduates, while university-wide, 1 in 3 students completes their degree within six years. These metrics reflect both challenges (retention) and strengths (career-ready programs in high-demand fields).
Tuition at TSU is $11,880 after aid, with 82% of first-years receiving need-based scholarships averaging $7,499. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator estimates costs including fees, books, and housing, though 77.79% of students secure financial aid packages averaging $15,107. Public affordability meets HBCU support systems, making TSU a value-driven choice for Tennessee residents.
TSU carves a niche as Nashville’s only public HBCU, merging urban opportunities with historic LegacyAn applicant whose parent (or sometimes other close relative) attended the college. Some schools give a small edge to legacy applicants.. Its agricultural programs (like Agribusiness) leverage Tennessee’s farming economy, while health sciences feed into the city’s hospital networks. The 70% acceptance rate opens doors, but the culture—where dorm life buzzes with ambition and Greek letters loom large—demands grit. For students seeking a community-focused, career-aligned education with a soundtrack of country and blues, TSU delivers.
