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Tennessee State University
Nashville, TN
Tennessee State University (TSU) is a public university located in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1912, TSU is the only state-funded historically black university in Tennessee. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across eight colleges and schools, including business, education, nursing, and engineering. TSU is known for its commitment to providing a holistic educational experience that prepares students for success in their chosen career paths.
TSU prides itself on its diverse student body, which includes students from various cultural backgrounds, nationalities, and states. With a student population of over 7,000, the university fosters a vibrant and inclusive campus community. TSU has a strong emphasis on experiential learning, providing students with opportunities to engage in internships, research projects, and community service. The university's location in Nashville, known as the "Music City," allows students to benefit from its thriving arts and entertainment scene, expanding their cultural and professional horizons.
TSU also offers a wide range of extracurricular activities and student organizations to enrich the college experience. From Greek life to academic clubs, there are ample opportunities for students to engage in campus life and develop leadership skills. Moreover, TSU is home to several NCAA Division I athletic teams, allowing students to participate in or cheer for their favorite sports teams. Overall, TSU is committed to fostering an environment where students can not only achieve academic success but also grow personally, professionally, and culturally.
Tennessee State University is a public university located in Nashville, TN and set in an urban environment. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 92%. The freshman retention rate at Tennessee State University is 60% and the six-year graduation rate is 34%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is August 1. Here are some recent information on important things to consider about Tennessee State University.
Quick Facts
6,765
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
92%
Acceptance Rate
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
34%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to increase your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission. Check out some essential information about admission at Tennessee State University.
According to the most recent data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 11,919 in 2024. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively easy to get into.
Test Scores
3% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 32% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 5.6% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 7% between 1,200 and 1,399, 38% between 1,000 and 1,199, 45% of the students between 800 and 999, and 9% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 1, 11 between 24-29, 48 in the range between 18-23, 39 between 12-17, and 1 between 6-11.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.27. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by August 1.
92%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. When you create your list of possible schools to attend, don't forget to consider the freshmen retention rate.
As reported in 2024, the freshman retention rate for Tennessee State University was 60%.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 34%.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the right match for you. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better idea of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Tennessee State University in 2024 was 8,198.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 56. There was a total of 6,765 students pursuing undergraduate degrees, including 112 international students. The school reported to have a total of 218 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 2,229 male and 4,324 female full-time students in 2024. 238 full-time graduate men and 411 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2024, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 52, while the number of Black American students was 5,525. 173 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 174 identified with more than one race. The school also had 1 student who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 4 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 161 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial support can be a great deal for most students. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Tennessee State University, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
According to the most recent data, 1,008 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students came to $15,446.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
3,090 students secured some form of need-based financial aid. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need amounted to 4,767. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $17,828,121, and state $1,739,249.
$15,739
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
2,758 students, including freshmen, were awarded institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2024. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 549 full-time freshmen. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $36,891,359. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $2,700,683 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Tennessee State University was 17:1: that means 17 students per one teacher. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 528. This number included 265 men and 263 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some info about social life at Tennessee State University.
Its campus spans 450 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
According to the most recent information, there are 89 open-membership organizations at Tennessee State University. That includes sororities and fraternities. At this school, 5.52% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 10.4 for female students. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is Alpha Kappa Psi, followed by Delta Sigma Theta and Collegiate 100. Other popular organizations among the students at Tennessee State University are Hipnotize Dance Troop and Alpha Kappa Alpha.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Tennessee State University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. For individuals with an interest in media and communication, Tennessee State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Tennessee State University, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. Dormitory entrances at the school are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Tennessee State University.
All in all, campus life at Tennessee State University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Tennessee State University.
Career Counselling
At Tennessee State University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a job bank and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Tennessee State University is located in Nashville, TN.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Tennessee State University is 92%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Tennessee State University is 60%.
Contact Information
Tennessee State University,
3500 John A Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, TN
37209-1561
615 963-5000
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.