US CollegesGetting in
Tennessee State University admits 70% of those who apply, which makes it open to most applicants. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%. The average SAT score of admitted students is 1000 out of 1600.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees, students from Tennessee | $9,048 |
| Tuition and fees, students from elsewhere | $22,848 |
| Room and meals on campus | $10,568 |
| Books and supplies | $1,220 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $25,814 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $12,154 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off (for a public college, students from inside the state). It is 24% below the median net price of colleges in Tennessee on this site ($15,965). International students are normally charged the out-of-state tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $11,076 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $13,897 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $10,833 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $15,005 |
| Above $110,000 | $14,917 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | TN median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 34% | 70% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 34% | 46% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $47,151 | $48,641 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $24,250 | $19,567 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in Tennessee and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
57% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 44% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 65% women and 35% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 17 of the 62 colleges in Tennessee on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 1,810.
Other colleges in Tennessee of a similar size
- The University of Tennessee-MartinMartin, public
- Lipscomb UniversityNashville, private nonprofit
- Southern Adventist UniversityCollegedale, private nonprofit
- Lee UniversityCleveland, private nonprofit
- Belmont UniversityNashville, private nonprofit
- Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, private nonprofit
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of Tennessee State University?
Tennessee State University admits 70% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at Tennessee State University?
Published tuition and fees are $9,048 a year for students from Tennessee and $22,848 for others. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of Tennessee State University?
34% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.