Biology
Ranked #249 of 680 for valueBiology, General · 45 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $59,855
- Ranked-college median: $58,001
- Median debt
- $19,276
- Ranked-college median: $20,717
Tennessee State University acceptance rate
Acceptance rate: 70.1% (fall admissions, CollegesRef 2026–27 edition). Middle 50% test scores: SAT Reading & Writing 460–540, SAT Math 420–510, ACT 16–21. Admissions details
What we know
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025- Students
- 4,848
Larger than 77% of colleges
National median 1,603
Tennessee State UniversityMiddle half of collegesNational median
Designations: Historically Black college or university(U.S. College Scorecard · 2025)
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Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
70.1%
Admit rate
Middle 50% test scores
- SAT Reading & Writing
- 460–540
- 200800
- SAT Math
- 420–510
- 200800
- ACT Composite
- 16–21
- 136
Your chances
Check your chancesYour SAT or ACT against Tennessee State University- SAT, middle 50%
- 880–1050
- ACT, middle 50%
- 16–21
Cost & financial aid
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Average net price
$12,154
What students paid per year on average after grants and scholarships. Your price depends on family income.
Published price vs. what students paid
- In-state tuition & fees
- $9,048
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $22,848
- Average net price
- $12,154
Students receiving Pell Grants
- Pell Grant recipients
- 57.5%
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- Can I afford it?Loan payment against what its graduates earn
- How much can I borrow?Federal loan limits and what is left to cover
- Will I get a Pell Grant?Estimate this year's award from your SAI
- What would I repay?Monthly payments on $27,000 of loans
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Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
34%
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
33.5%
First-year retention
Students who return for a second year
Median earnings
$47,151
Former students who received federal aid
Programs at Tennessee State University
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard, field of study, 2025
Bachelor's majors where Tennessee State University is ranked in CollegesRef's value rankings. Earnings are medians 4 years after graduating, for graduates who received federal aid; the tick on each bar marks the median of all ranked colleges in that field.
Political science
Ranked #311 of 388 for valuePolitical Science and Government · 20 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $54,008
- Ranked-college median: $63,181
Education
Ranked #343 of 521 for valueTeacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods · 35 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $45,886
- Ranked-college median: $48,822
- Median debt
- $22,000
- Ranked-college median: $21,500
Communications
Ranked #348 of 388 for valueCommunication and Media Studies · 34 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $43,121
- Ranked-college median: $56,130
- Median debt
- $21,875
- Ranked-college median: $19,593
Criminal justice
Ranked #350 of 379 for valueCriminal Justice and Corrections · 40 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $46,062
- Ranked-college median: $55,481
- Median debt
- $25,000
- Ranked-college median: $21,500
Kinesiology and exercise science
Ranked #393 of 459 for valueSports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness · 23 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $45,568
- Ranked-college median: $53,707
- Median debt
- $26,000
- Ranked-college median: $21,500
Computer science
Ranked #440 of 466 for valueComputer Science · 23 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $67,292
- Ranked-college median: $97,375
- Median debt
- $25,125
- Ranked-college median: $19,500
Psychology
Ranked #654 of 814 for valuePsychology, General · 48 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $46,721
- Ranked-college median: $51,007
- Median debt
- $27,000
- Ranked-college median: $21,000
Business
Ranked #773 of 986 for valueBusiness Administration, Management and Operations · 111 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $57,083
- Ranked-college median: $64,860
- Median debt
- $23,250
- Ranked-college median: $21,375
Academics
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Total students
4,848
Academic calendar
Semester
Carnegie classification
R2 research university
A Doctoral University (which undergraduates attend) with high research activity.
Colleges like Tennessee State University
- Winston-Salem State UniversityWinston-Salem, NC
- Fayetteville State UniversityFayetteville, NC
Alabama State UniversityMontgomery, AL
Location & details
Where the campus is, how far it sits from a major city, and other colleges within reach.
Tennessee State UniversityNashville, TN, United States
Distances are straight-line miles, not driving distance. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, tiles by OpenFreeMap and OpenMapTiles.
Campus
Tennessee State University
Nashville, TN, United States
- Public
- R2 research university
Large city
Inside an urbanized area and a principal city.
- City (this campus)
- Suburb
- Town
- Rural
Nearest major cityIn or next to Nashville, TN
In the city250 mi
- Calendar
- Semester
- Website
- tnstate.edu
Still have a question?
Ask about admissions, cost or campus life at Tennessee State University. Answers come from CollegesRef data.
Ask CollegesRefSpecial features
What sets this college apart, grouped by theme, each with what it means and the data or editorial tag behind it.
CollegesRef editorial
Mission & community
HBCU
Historically Black college or university.
CollegesRef editorial tag
Athletics
NCAA Division I · The largest programs and athletic scholarships; big-time game days.
- D-INCAA Division I (this college)
- D-IINCAA Division II
- D-IIINCAA Division III
- NAIANAIA
- NJCAANJCAA
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Admit rate, net price and outcomes for Tennessee State University and Winston-Salem State University, side by side.
Compare with Winston-Salem State UniversityFrequently asked questions
What is the Tennessee State University acceptance rate for 2026?
Tennessee State University admitted 70.1% of applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, the most recent release. That is the figure colleges report to the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
How much is Tennessee State University tuition?
In-state tuition at Tennessee State University is $9,048 and out-of-state tuition is $22,848 a year before financial aid in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. The average net price after grants is $12,154 a year.
What is the average net price at Tennessee State University?
The average net price at Tennessee State University, what first-time, full-time students paid after grants and scholarships, was $12,154 a year in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. Your own price depends on family income; the college's net price calculator gives a personal estimate.
What is the graduation rate at Tennessee State University?
34% of first-time, full-time students at Tennessee State University graduate within six years (150% of normal time), according to the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
What colleges are similar to Tennessee State University?
The closest matches are Winston-Salem State University, Fayetteville State University, and Alabama State University, based on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile.
Sources
Last checked Nov 3, 2026
- Admissions
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Cost
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Outcomes
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Enrollment
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Figures come from federal reporting. Text marked “CollegesRef editorial” is our own summary, and similar-college lists come from CollegesRef matching. How we source data
