Tennessee State University

Public · Moderately Selective · TN

Photo: U.S. Army RDECOM (Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD) (Public Domain)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationTN · South

SettingUrban

Undergrads4,848

Student:faculty13:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate21.8%

6-yr grad rate34%

Drop-out rate66.5%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$9k

Out-of-state tuition$22k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity95.6%

Gender diversity65.5%

International2.2%

IdentityHBCU

Overview

Tennessee State is Nashville's historically Black public land-grant university, with campuses near downtown and along the Cumberland River. It is known for the Grammy-winning Aristocrat of Bands marching band, engineering and agriculture programs, and an Olympic track legacy: Wilma Rudolph ran for the school's famed Tigerbelles.

Academics

As a land-grant institution, agriculture is a genuine academic strength, and engineering is also well established. The university's track and field program carries a historic legacy of Olympic-level coaching and competition that is unusual for a school its size.

Campus & student life

The Aristocrat of Bands is one of the most recognized HBCU marching bands nationally, a real point of campus pride and identity that extends well beyond football Saturdays, and the Nashville location gives students access to the city's music industry and job market.

After graduation

Tennessee State's track and field program has an actual Olympic pedigree through its Tigerbelles tradition, and its Nashville location gives graduates in business, music, and media-adjacent fields direct access to the city's industry.

Worth knowing

The Tigerbelles track tradition, associated with coach Ed Temple and alumnae including Wilma Rudolph, is genuine Olympic history, not a marketing claim, and the Aristocrat of Bands' Grammy recognition reflects real national standing among HBCU marching bands.

tnstate.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate70.1%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 880–1050 · ACT 16–21

Test policyrequired

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying