Colleges by Location
Colleges by Fields of Study
Colleges by Tuition Range
Colleges by GPA Range
College by SAT Range
Colleges by ACT Score
Graduate Schools by Location
Graduate Schools by Fields of Study
Graduate School by Degree Type
Paying for Graduate School
Online Graduate Programs
Test Preparation
Career Planning
College Planning
Graduate School Planning
Applying to Graduate School
Engineering Careers
- More
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.
Located in Nashville, TN and set in an urban environment, Tennessee State University is a public comprehensive higher education institution. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 70%. The freshman retention rate at Tennessee State University is 33.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 35%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is August 1. Learn more about what Tennessee State University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
5,057
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
35%
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. Here are the most important data you have to know about admission at Tennessee State University.
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 6,859 in 2025. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively easy to get into.
Test Scores
32% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 66% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 0.6% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 4.6% between 1,200 and 1,399, 27.4% between 1,000 and 1,199, 60.1% of the students between 800 and 999, and 7.3% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 0.5, 11 between 24-29, 50.3 in the range between 18-23, 37.3 between 12-17, 0.8 between 6-11, and 0.1 below 6.
The average ACT score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 18 and the average GPA was 3.38. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Tennessee State University.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by August 1.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Tennessee State University was 33.5% in 2025.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 35%.
Student Body
Making the choice of which school is the best match for you is not simple. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 6,310 students.
That year, the school had 55% of out-of-state students. There was a total of 5,057 undergraduate students, including 109 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 257.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 1,727 male and 3,345 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Tennessee State University.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 28, and the number of African American students was 4,124. 147 students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 130 as multirace. The school also had 2 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 2 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 93 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to think about before you apply. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Tennessee State University.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Tennessee State University? Here is what you need to know.
For the students who live in the area, the tuition cost was $7,800, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $21,600. Tuition costs at Tennessee State University for international students were $21,600. Fees per academic year required of full-time students reached $1,248 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $21,600 | $1,248 | $22,848 |
| In-State | $7,800 | $1,248 | $9,048 |
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What do colleges and universities typically charge for accommodation and meals?
In 2025, the price of room and board at Tennessee State University was $9,394 per academic year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school totaled $4,322, according to the data from 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 7,800 |
| Room and Board | $ 9,394 |
| Total Expense | $ 17,194 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial help can be a great deal for many 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, 715 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students reached $15,582.
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.
2,761 students were awarded some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Tennessee State University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 3,536. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $19,727,354, and state $1,433,294.
$13,030
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for 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.
2,100 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 440 full-time freshmen. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $25,323,701. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $232,379 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Tennessee State University was 11:1: that means 11 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 565.
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some info about social life at Tennessee State University.
It has a campus size of 500 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
This number includes sororities and fraternities. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is Alpha Phi Omega, followed by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity Inc.. Other popular student organizations at this school are Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and All World Campus Ministries.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Tennessee State University band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For individuals with an interest in media and communication, Tennessee State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Tennessee State University offers a number of services necessary for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. 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 library, 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. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Finding out some information about the expected post-graduation salary can help you decide if a particular school suits your career objectives.
Within six months of graduation, this school's students can expect an average base annual starting salary of 51,916 USD.
$51,916
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
-
Tennessee State University is located in Nashville, TN.
-
Tennessee State University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
-
This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
-
The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Tennessee State University is 70%.
-
The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Tennessee State University is 33.5%.
Contact Information
Tennessee State University
3500 John A Meritt Blvd
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.
Find the best schools for you.
Need help with choosing grad school? We got you.
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.