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Tennessee State University
Most applicants get into Tennessee State University — 70.1% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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Tennessee State University sits in Nashville proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. It is one of the nation's historically Black colleges and universities, a designation that shapes both its history and its present mission. It carries a land-grant charter — the 1862 mandate that ties it to agricultural and practical education.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $92,380 four years out. Faculty pay averages $104,784 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 4,848 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 33.5% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 856 and 1068 — below the TN middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Tennessee State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Tennessee State University is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 856–1068 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Tennessee State University's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 433 | 500 | 538 |
| SAT Math | 423 | 485 | 530 |
| ACT Composite | 16 | 19 | 21 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Tennessee State University received 12,890 applications and admitted 11,940 (92.6%), with 1,770 enrolling.
How Tennessee State University compares
| Tennessee State University | Tennessee median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 70.1% | 69.4% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,616 | $21,400 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $42,730 | $48,382 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, Tennessee State University's median earnings are $42,730 — below the Tennessee benchmark of $48,382. Weigh that against the $8,616 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, Tennessee State University prices by residency: $8,616 in-state versus $22,416 out-of-state — a $13,800 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
Tennessee State University enrolls 4,848 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Tennessee State University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
Fewer than half of Tennessee State University students — 34% — finish within six years. That number should shape how much debt feels safe.
Top majors by earnings at Tennessee State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $92,380 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $69,414 |
| Computer Science | $67,292 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $63,629 |
| Biology, General | $59,855 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $57,083 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $54,249 |
| Political Science and Government | $54,008 |
| Music | $53,483 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $53,231 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | $48,365 |
| Sociology | $47,853 |
| Psychology, General | $46,721 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $46,062 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $45,886 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $45,568 |
| Social Work | $44,989 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $43,121 |
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | $42,524 |
| Agriculture, General | $42,503 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $36,332 |
Median earnings for these 21 Tennessee State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $42,730 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 13 additional Tennessee State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Tennessee State University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 856–1068 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 70.1% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Tennessee State University's acceptance rate?
92.6% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 11,940 admitted from 12,890 applicants.
How much does Tennessee State University cost?
In-state tuition is $8,616; out-of-state students pay $22,416. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Tennessee State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $42,730 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Tennessee
- Tennessee Technological University — 76.1% admitted
- Trevecca Nazarene University — 69.4% admitted
- The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga — 81.1% admitted
- Tennessee Wesleyan University — 68.8% 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.