Tennessee State University

www.tnstate.edu

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2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$7,368

0.656% growth from 2023

2024 Average Net Price

$14,586

After Financial Aid

2024 Acceptance Rate

70.1%

9,660 Applicants

2024 Enrolled Students

6,310

80.4% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

34.6%

407 Graduates

About

Tennessee State University is a higher education institution located in Davidson County, TN. In 2024, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Tennessee State University were General Business Administration & Management (102 degrees awarded), Other Health Professions & Related Clinical Sciences (49 degrees), and General Psychology (48 degrees).

In 2024, 1,236 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Tennessee State University. 68% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 32% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was black or african american (810 degrees), 3.01 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (269 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Tennessee State University is $7,368, which is $−24,552 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Tennessee State University is $7,368, which is $24,552 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $14,586.

In 2024, 73% of undergraduate students attending Tennessee State University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 46% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$7,368

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Tennessee State University was $7,368. The cost of tuition at Tennessee State University is $−24,552 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Tennessee State University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$14,586

2024 Value

58%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 Tennessee State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $14,586. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Tennessee State University grew by 58%.

This chart compares the average net price of Tennessee State University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$13,827

Room and Board

$1,600

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Tennessee State University was of $13,827 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 23.2% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,600. The cost of books and supplies increased by 6.67% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Tennessee State University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

73%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

46%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

73% of undergraduate students at Tennessee State University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a decline of 17% with respect to 2023, when 88% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Tennessee State University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Admissions

Tennessee State University received 9,660 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 25.1% annual growth. Out of those 9,660 applicants, 6,773 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 70.1% acceptance rate.

There were 6,310 students enrolled at Tennessee State University in 2024. 33% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Tennessee State University has an overall enrollment yield of 13%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

70.1%

Acceptance Rate in 2024

6,773

Accepted Out of 9,660

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Tennessee State University was 70.1% (6,773 admissions from 9,660 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 92.6%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants declined by 25.1%, while admissions declined by 43.3%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Tennessee State University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

33%

Submission Percentage (2024)

291

Scores Submitted (2024)

33% of enrolled first-time students at Tennessee State University in 2024 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Tennessee State University had a total enrollment of 6,310 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Tennessee State University is 5,072 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,238. This means that 80.4% of students enrolled at Tennessee State University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Tennessee State University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 75.4% Black or African American, 9.6% White, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 2.69% Two or More Races, 0.919% Asian, 0.0951% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0475% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Tennessee State University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly Black or African American Female (57.7%), followed by Black or African American Male (28.6%) and Two or More Races Female (1.93%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly Black or African American Female (31%), followed by White Female (20.1%) and Black or African American Male (13.3%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

80.4%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Tennessee State University in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 6,310 students. The full-time enrollment at Tennessee State University is 5,072 and the part-time enrollment is 1,238. This means that 80.4% of students enrolled at Tennessee State University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.3% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Tennessee State University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

33%

2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Tennessee State University was 33%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (82%), Tennessee State University had a retention rate lower than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Tennessee State University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

Black or African American
4,758 enrolled students
White
606 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
227 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Tennessee State University is 75.4% Black or African American, 9.6% White, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 2.69% Two or More Races, 0.919% Asian, 0.0951% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0475% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.2% White, 16.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 10.4% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 219 students (3.47%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 444 more women than men received degrees from Tennessee State University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Tennessee State University is black or african american (810 degrees awarded). There were 3.01 times more black or african american recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (269 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Tennessee State University is General Business Administration & Management (102 degrees awarded), followed by Other Health Professions & Related Clinical Sciences (49 degrees) and General Psychology (48 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Tennessee State University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Agriculture (65 degrees awarded), Public Administration and Social Service (76 degrees), and Education (190 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Tennessee State University are Elementary & middle school teachers (1,516,917 people), Secondary school teachers (494,075 people), Education administrators (271,362 people), Special education teachers (204,410 people), and Other managers (201,832 people).

The most specialized majors at Tennessee State University in 2024 are Agriculture (65 degrees awarded), Public Administration and Social Service (76 degrees), Education (190 degrees), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (40 degrees), and Protective Services (46 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Tennessee State University are Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, Surgeons, Physicians, Geoscientists and hydrologists, except geographers, and Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists

The most specialized majors at Tennessee State University are Agriculture (65 degrees awarded), Public Administration and Social Service (76 degrees), Education (190 degrees), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (40 degrees), and Protective Services (46 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Tennessee State University are Elementary & secondary schools (2,835,760 people), Justice, public order, & safety activities (389,049 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (309,406 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (257,691 people), and Individual & family services (172,373 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Tennessee State University.

Dental Hygiene

Most Common (2024)

21 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common associates degree concentration at Tennessee State University was Dental Hygiene with 21 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from associates degree programs at Tennessee State University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

396

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

840

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 396 degrees were awarded to men at Tennessee State University, which is 0.471 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (840).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Tennessee State University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 71 degrees were awarded to men at Tennessee State University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 0.899 times less than the 79 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 88 degrees were awarded to men at Tennessee State University in General Educational Leadership & Administration, which is 2.75 times more than the 32 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

21%

100% Completion Time

33%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 21% of students graduating from Tennessee State University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 33% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 35% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

Black or African American
810 degrees awarded
White
269 degrees awarded
Two or More Races
33 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Tennessee State University is black or african american (810 degrees awarded). There were 3.01 times more black or african american recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (269 degrees).

0.405% of degree recipients (5 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

Black or African American Female
693 degrees awarded
Black or African American Female
685 degrees awarded
Black or African American Female
637 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Tennessee State University is black or african american female (693 degrees awarded). There were 1.01 times more black or african american female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american female (685 degrees).

Operations

Tennessee State University has an endowment valued at nearly $115M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 1.38M (1.2%) compared to the 9.4% average return (23.7M on 252M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2024, Tennessee State University had a total salary expenditure of 283M. Tennessee State University employs 142 Assistant professors, 107 Associate professors and 99 Professors. Most academics at Tennessee State University are Female Assistant professor (82), Male Professor (63), and Male Assistant professor (60).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Tennessee State University are: Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 275 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 225 employees, and Management with 141 employees.

Endowment

$115M

2024 Endowment

15.2%

growth from 2023

Tennessee State University has an endowment valued at about $115M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Tennessee State University grew 15.2% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $137M lower than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Tennessee State University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$53M - Federal
$7.84M - State
$1.74M - Local

As of 2024, Tennessee State University received $53M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $7.84M from state grants and contracts, and $1.74M from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$116M

2024 Salaries

8.58%

growth from 2023

In 2024, Tennessee State University paid a median of $116M in salaries, which represents 41% of their overall expenditure ($283M) and a 8.58% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 12.3% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 0.75% growth between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$34.3M

Instructional Salaries

396

Number of Employees

In 2024, Tennessee State University paid a total of $34.3M to 396 employees working as instructors, which represents 29.6% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $4.1M (2.29%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Tennessee State University were Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 275 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 225 employees, and Management with 141 employees.

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