Admit rate has ranged 59%–61% over the last 5 years. 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.
Tennessee Wesleyan University is a small, nurturing liberal arts college in Athens, TN, where students get the close-knit community of a tight-knit campus with the academic breadth of 80+ majors. Known for its strong nursing and business programs, TWU boasts a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and a graduation rate that outpaces many regional peers. With nearly all students receiving merit aid and a campus culture that emphasizes personal connections, it's a place where 'small college' doesn't mean limited opportunities.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
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
846
In-state tuition
$30,814
Out-of-state tuition
$30,814
Campus Housing
37% of students
Acceptance Rate
59-69%
Most Popular Major
Nursing (63 students)
Student-Faculty Ratio
12:1
6-Year Graduation Rate
52%
Median Early-Career Earnings
$36,427
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$45,989
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.1×
Median debt at graduation
$20,000
Graduation rate
48%
First-year retention
72%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
62%
Pell (lower-income) share
64%
First-generation share
41%
Endowment / student
$21,353
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$50,401
Business Administration, Management and Operations$39,009
Accounting and Related Services$38,289
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$37,208
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$36,560
Security Science and Technology
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
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
94
Summer high
87°F
Winter low
36°F
Annual rain
57.9"
Annual snow
4.2"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
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.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Tennessee Wesleyan University?
Tennessee Wesleyan University's acceptance rate is approximately 69% (Athens, TN), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Tennessee Wesleyan University cost?
At Tennessee Wesleyan University, the average net price (after aid) is about $14,836 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Tennessee Wesleyan University?
Tennessee Wesleyan University enrolls approximately 846 undergraduate students.
Where is Tennessee Wesleyan University located?
Tennessee Wesleyan University is located in Athens, TN.
Admissions
Tennessee Wesleyan is moderately selective, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. fluctuating between 59% (per College Board) and 69% (per U.S. News). Test scores for admitted students cluster in the middle ranges: SAT scores typically fall between 940–1135, while ACT composites range from 18–24. About 42% of admitted students have GPAs of 3.75 or higher, suggesting a focus on academic preparation without being hyper-competitive. The university doesn't enforce strict application deadlines, offering rolling admissions that prioritize accessibility.
TWU offers over 80 majors and minors through three distinct colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business and Professional Studies, and Nursing. Nursing dominates as the most popular program (79% female enrollment), followed by Business Administration. The 12:1 student-faculty ratio ensures close mentorship, with 52% of students graduating within six years—a rate that climbs to 56% when extending to eight years. The academic calendar follows a traditional semester system, blending liberal arts foundations with career-focused programs like Sports Management and Elementary Education.
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.
$30,409
Human Services, General$28,598
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$25,194
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.
Only 37% of students live on campus, creating a commuter-heavy dynamic where Greek life and athletics help forge connections. The NAIA Bulldogs field 28 varsity teams, and the campus atmosphere is frequently described as 'family-like' with strong faculty-student bonds. Social media tours showcase a compact, walkable campus with modernized residence halls and an emphasis on support systems—both academic (tutoring centers) and personal (counseling services).
Graduates earn a median of $36,427 one year post-degree, climbing steadily as experience accumulates. The university ranks #5 in Tennessee by WalletHub for ROI, with graduates typically recouping their educational investment in about 18 years. Notably, TWU's 51.67% six-year graduation rate outperforms nearby public institutions like Tennessee Tech (37.16% for Pell recipients), suggesting strong support for at-risk students.
TWU aggressively discounts tuition: 100% of students receive merit scholarships (averaging $12,941), with total aid packages hitting $19,709 on average. After aid, Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. drops to $16,414—far below the sticker price. The university meets 95% of demonstrated need primarily through grants rather than loans, though 66% of students still take on some debt. Unique among regional peers, even athletic recruits are guaranteed academic scholarships.
TWU delivers unusually strong outcomes for a college its size—its nursing graduates consistently pass licensure exams at high rates, and the business school's 'Professional Studies' track integrates internships with coursework. The campus culture thrives on relational intensity: professors know students by name, and traditions like the 'Bulldog Walk' at graduation reinforce communal bonds. For Tennessee students seeking a private college experience without elite-school pretensions (or price tags), it's a compelling sweet spot.
Tennessee Wesleyan University logo · sourceLocation | Tennessee Wesleyan University · sourceLocation | Tennessee Wesleyan University · sourceTWUAthens_042820-91 (1) | Tennessee Wesleyan University · source
