# Tennessee State University

> Tennessee State University's acceptance rate is 70.1% (CollegesRef 2026–27 edition). It is a public university in Nashville, TN, with 4,848 students. The average net price after grants is $12,154 a year. The six-year graduation rate is 34%, and median earnings ten years after entry are $47,151.

Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. Federal source years are listed with each table.

- Profile: https://www.collegesref.com/college/tennessee-state-university-2688
- Location: Nashville, TN, United States
- Setting: Large city
- Control: Public
- Classification: R2 research university
- Official website: https://www.tnstate.edu/
- IPEDS Unit ID: 221838
- Last verified by CollegesRef: 2026-11-03

## Admissions

Source: U.S. College Scorecard, 2025 data.

| Measure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Acceptance rate | 70.1% |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (25th–75th percentile) | 460–540 |
| SAT Math (25th–75th percentile) | 420–510 |
| ACT Composite (25th–75th percentile) | 16–21 |

## Cost

Source: U.S. College Scorecard, 2025 data.

| Measure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| In-state tuition | $9,048 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $22,848 |
| Average net price (per year, after grants) | $12,154 |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 57.5% |

## Outcomes

Source: U.S. College Scorecard, 2025 data.

| Measure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Graduation rate (within six years) | 34% |
| First-year retention rate | 33.5% |
| Median earnings (10 years after entry) | $47,151 |

## Enrollment

Source: U.S. College Scorecard, 2025 data.

| Measure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Total students | 4,848 |

## Frequently 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.

## Related pages

- [Tennessee State University Tuition 2026](https://www.collegesref.com/college/tennessee-state-university-2688/financial)
- [Tennessee State University Rankings by Major](https://www.collegesref.com/college/tennessee-state-university-2688/rankings)
- [Tennessee State University Earnings by Major](https://www.collegesref.com/college/tennessee-state-university-2688/outcomes)
- [Colleges similar to Tennessee State University](https://www.collegesref.com/collegesref/tennessee-state-university-2688)
- [Compare Tennessee State University with other colleges](https://www.collegesref.com/compare?slugs=tennessee-state-university-2688)
- [College Scorecard entry](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?221838)
- [College Navigator entry](https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=221838)

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Source: CollegesRef, https://www.collegesref.com/college/tennessee-state-university-2688. Figures are federal reports (IPEDS and the U.S. College Scorecard); cite the data year shown with each table. Blank measures were not reported and are left out rather than estimated.