Tennessee State University
PublicNashville, TN
Tennessee State University is a public mid-sized school in Nashville, TN, enrolling about 4,848 undergraduates. It's not highly selective, admitting a majority of applicants, admitting about 70% of applicants. Its highest-earning reported major is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Health Professions and Related Programs), where graduates report median earnings of $92,380/year four years out. On-campus housing isn't required, so many students live off campus.
Admissions
Test scores for the Fall 2025 entering class come from Tennessee State University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set: 30% submitted SAT scores, 67% submitted ACT scores.
Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry
- Regular Decision: Aug 1, 2027
Confirm on Tennessee State University's own admissions site before you apply.
Cost & outcomes
Out-of-state students pay $13,800 more per year in tuition and fees (2.6x the in-state rate).
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Paying less as an out-of-state student
Tennessee State University takes part in this regional program, which can cut the out-of-state rate for students from nearby states.
Academic Common Market
Residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia can pay in-state tuition for a specific major that no public college in their home state offers. You need admission to that major and approval from your home state's coordinator.
Where do you stand against Tennessee State University's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow Tennessee State University weighs your application
From Tennessee State University's own Common Data Set, 2025-26, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Tennessee State University weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does Tennessee State University look for in applicants?
Per Tennessee State University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates academic GPA, standardized test scores as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is Tennessee State University's acceptance rate?
Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN admits approximately 70% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for Tennessee State University?
Per Tennessee State University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 900–1120 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
What ACT score do I need for Tennessee State University?
Per Tennessee State University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 16–21 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
How much does Tennessee State University cost?
Tennessee State University's total cost of attendance is reported at $25,637 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
Does Tennessee State University offer reduced tuition for out-of-state students?
Yes -- Tennessee State University takes part in the Academic Common Market, a regional program that lets qualifying out-of-state students pay less than the full out-of-state rate. Eligibility depends on your home state, and the school sets its own requirements.
What is out-of-state tuition at Tennessee State University?
For 2024-25, Tennessee State University's published tuition and required fees were $22,416 for out-of-state students and $8,616 for in-state students -- $13,800 more per year for out-of-state students. That's before financial aid, and room and board are extra.
When is the application deadline for Tennessee State University?
Tennessee State University's deadlines are Regular Decision Aug 1, 2027, per its own published admissions calendar.
Does Tennessee State University require students to live on campus?
No -- Tennessee State University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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