Middle Tennessee State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It enrolls 16,301 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
73/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes50
Value78
Affordability64
Selectivity52
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 69.1%, Middle Tennessee State University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
69.1%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1010 – 1230
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
20 – 26
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyRequiredSAT or ACT scores must be submitted with the application.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Middle Tennessee State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
25.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Middle Tennessee State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $13,359 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$13,359
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
32%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
28%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$10,266
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$31,574
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,242
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,208
Books & Supplies
$1,260
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,714
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,714
Total Cost of Attendance
$24,289
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$9,289
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,273
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,007
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,935
Over $110,000
$19,046
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,00010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$20,000Medianpercentile
$26,53275%percentile
$37,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,500
↓ $4,500
No Pell $12,000
↓ $8,000
Dependent students $14,000
↓ $6,000
Independent students $15,750
↓ $4,250
Female students $15,000
↓ $5,000
Male students $12,937
↓ $7,063
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($20,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
50% of full-time students who enrolled at Middle Tennessee State University graduate within six years, and 79% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
50%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
79%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $48,541 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$48,541
Earning > $25K
76%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$39,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$50,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$41,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$44,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$47,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,200, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
20.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 79% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Middle Tennessee State University is home to 16,301 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 36% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
16,301
Part-Time
13%
First-Generation
36%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 63.0%10,271
Black 14.0%2,281
Hispanic 10.7%1,736
Other 4.6%756
Asian 4.3%693
International 1.8%297
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Middle Tennessee State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityMurfreesboro, Tennessee
Housing
Partly residential2,518 beds available
Adult Learners
14%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Middle Tennessee State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
126 distinct programs across
28 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Middle Tennessee State University is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$12,326
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$137M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$84,769
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
936 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
338
36%
$108,429
Associate Professors
208
22%
$87,167
Assistant Professors
147
16%
$76,552
Instructors
48
5%
$58,184
Lecturers
195
21%
$53,939
Pros & Cons of Middle Tennessee State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Middle Tennessee State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
Frequently Asked Questions about Middle Tennessee State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Middle Tennessee State University.
Is Middle Tennessee State University hard to get into?
Admissions at Middle Tennessee State University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 69.1%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Middle Tennessee State University?
Middle Tennessee State University has an acceptance rate of 69.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Middle Tennessee State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Middle Tennessee State University scored between 1010 and 1230 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Middle Tennessee State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Middle Tennessee State University scored between 20 and 26 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Middle Tennessee State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Middle Tennessee State University is $13,359 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Middle Tennessee State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $48,541 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,359 per year. That's roughly 3.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Middle Tennessee State University known for?
Middle Tennessee State University is best known for its programs in Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Business Administration, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Middle Tennessee State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Middle Tennessee State University are $48,541, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Middle Tennessee State University accredited?
Yes. Middle Tennessee State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Middle Tennessee State University?
Middle Tennessee State University enrolls 16,301 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Middle Tennessee State University?
Middle Tennessee State University graduates 50% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Middle Tennessee State University a public or private college?
Middle Tennessee State University is a Public institution.
Where is Middle Tennessee State University located?
Middle Tennessee State University is located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
What programs does Middle Tennessee State University offer?
Middle Tennessee State University offers 126 distinct programs. The most popular include Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Business Administration, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Middle Tennessee State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Middle Tennessee State University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Tennessee
Other colleges in Tennessee share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Business Administration
Educational Administration
Communication & Media
Related Guides
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Rankings That Feature Middle Tennessee State University
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