Colleges › Tennessee › Carson-Newman University
Carson-Newman University
Carson-Newman University admits nearly everyone — 90.5% of applicants. A feature, not a flaw: the page below asks whether Carson-Newman University is worth attending, not whether you'll get in.
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Carson-Newman University occupies suburban Jefferson City, TN — a private campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat. The school maintains its Baptist affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $70,769 four years out. Faculty pay averages $76,644 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 1,387 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 74.2% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 940 and 1130 — below the TN middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Carson-Newman University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 940–1130 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, Carson-Newman University's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 480 | 520 | 570 |
| SAT Math | 460 | 520 | 560 |
| ACT Composite | 19 | 22 | 25 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Carson-Newman University received 2,991 applications and admitted 2,042 (68.3%), with 367 enrolling.
How Carson-Newman University compares
| Carson-Newman University | Tennessee median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 90.5% | 69.4% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $34,700 | $21,400 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $48,382 | $48,382 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Carson-Newman University student earns $48,382 — 0% above the Tennessee median of $48,382 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
Carson-Newman University lists tuition at $34,700 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Carson-Newman University's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $34,700 as the ceiling, not the bill.
With 1,387 undergraduates, Carson-Newman University is small enough that class size and faculty access are structural, not marketing claims.
53.2% graduate within six years. Roughly 47% don't — ask a Carson-Newman University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Carson-Newman University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $70,769 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $64,634 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $64,503 |
| Psychology, Other | $49,609 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $46,614 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $45,780 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $44,311 |
| Religion/Religious Studies | $43,115 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $42,340 |
| Psychology, General | $37,992 |
Median earnings for these 10 Carson-Newman University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $48,382 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 54 additional Carson-Newman University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Carson-Newman University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 940–1130 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 90.5% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Carson-Newman University's acceptance rate?
68.3% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 2,042 admitted from 2,991 applicants.
How much does Carson-Newman University cost?
At Carson-Newman University, published tuition is $34,700 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Carson-Newman University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Carson-Newman University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $48,382 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Tennessee
- Christian Brothers University — 86.7% admitted
- Belmont University — 95.3% admitted
- Austin Peay State University — 96.4% admitted
- East Tennessee State University — 86.2% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.