Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Tennessee State University is a public national university located in Nashville, Tennessee. Tennessee State University has an open admissions policy.
Return on educational investment at Tennessee State University is in the bottom 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $40,509 10 years after enrolling, 30th in Tennessee, and in the bottom 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Tennessee State University bachelor students earn 10% less than the national average.
Tennessee State University’s median net annual cost of $11,867 and average years to graduate of 5 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Tennessee State University sorted by number of graduates - Business Administration, Comms & Media Studies, Psychology, Criminal Justice, Education, Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$11,867
Average years to graduate
5
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 1.61
Civil Engineering
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 1.95
Health Administrative Services
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 2.56
Diagnostic, Intervention & Treatment
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 3.4
Computer Science
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 5.62
Health & Fitness
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 5.64
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 5.66
Biology
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 6.1
Consumer Economics
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 8.48
Poli Sci/Government
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 33.01
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Tennessee State University - Business Administration, Registered Nursing, Therapeutic professions, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Communication disorder sciences, Social Work - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Health & Fitness
Rank: #137
Economic score: 1.11
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 5 years. 41% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Tennessee State University is 16% lower than the state average, and 27% below the average for all national universities in the country.
At Tennessee State University, Pell Grant recipients represent 49% of the measured graduating class, 14% higher than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Tennessee State University graduates within 5.1 years.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Tennessee State University’s economic mobility score of 26.47 is calculated by adjusting the 3.41 economic score of lower-income students by the 49% pell grant recipients within the student body. Tennessee State University’s EMS of 26.47 ranks in the top 25% nationally. Please note that the economic mobility score considers only students that have graduated.
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 25%
The average Title IV recipient at Tennessee State University pays $11,867 a year, $11,557 less than the $23,424 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $11,867
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Tennessee State University, 70% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $11,867 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 45% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $6,369. This is 9% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,525
Pell grants
$4,724
State grants
$4,053
Institutional grants
$7,457
Tennessee State University offers 7 online bachelor programs, 2 of which are held exclusively online. At the master’s level Tennessee State University offers 9 programs, one of which is held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
16
Hybrid programs
13
Percentage of programs online
26%
Full time
79%
83%
Female
66%
59%
First time
61%
59%
In-state
40%
68%
1st generation
37%
35%
White
10%
52%
Black
83%
14%
Hispanic
2%
15%
Asian
1%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
4%
12%