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Murfreesboro, TN · Knoxville, TN
| Middle Tennessee State University | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $13,359/yr | $18,976/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $9,289/yr | $10,029/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $20,000 | $20,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $10,273/yr | $12,162/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $13,007/yr | $18,206/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $16,935/yr | $23,627/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $19,046/yr | $25,688/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $212/mo | $217/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $12,242/yr | $13,356/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $12,208/yr | $16,448/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,260/yr | $1,598/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $5,714/yr | $6,298/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $24,289/yr | $33,678/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,266/yr | $13,812/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $31,574/yr | $33,256/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 32% | 19% |
| Students taking federal loans | 28% | 29% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 69% | 42% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1010–1230 | 1200–1370 |
| SAT average | 1121 | 1311 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 20–26 | 25–31 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 19–26 · Math 17–25 | English 24–32 · Math 24–29 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 14,763 | 50,488 |
| Students accepted | 10,039 | 23,221 |
| Students who enrolled | 3,126 | 6,694 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 31% | 29% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 7% | 28% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 92% | 78% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Not considered | Required |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Required | Required |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 54% | 74% |
| Freshmen who come back | 80% | 92% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $48,541/yr | $60,249/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $30,810–$69,704 | $39,008–$88,456 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 58% | 72% |
| White students graduating | 58% | 75% |
| Black students graduating | 43% | 62% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 44% | 67% |
| Asian students graduating | 67% | 77% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $39,941/yr | $47,782/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 71% | 76% |
| Graduate on time | 36% | 57% |
| Pell students who graduate | 48% | 65% |
| First-gen students who finish | 49% | 60% |
| Low-income students who finish | 46% | 57% |
| Students who transfer out | 23% | 16% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $44,447/yr | $54,188/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 19% · Visual & Performing Arts 12% · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies 10% | Business, Management & Marketing 30% · Engineering 9% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 7% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 19% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 30% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 12% of degrees | Engineering — 9% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies — 10% of degrees | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 7% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 7% of degrees | Health Professions — 7% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Transportation & Materials Moving — 6% of degrees | Communication & Journalism — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $92,221/yr | Industrial Engineering — $109,778/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 14% | 20% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 16,301 | 30,418 |
| Students per professor | 17 : 1 | 18 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 2,446 | 8,164 |
| Average professor pay | $9,739/mo | $12,968/mo |
| Full-time professors | 81% | 83% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $35,325 | $54,206 |
| Setting | City (midsize) | City (midsize) |
| Location | Murfreesboro, TN | Knoxville, TN |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1911 | 1794 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 1.8% | 0.9% |
| Men | 48% | 47% |
| Women | 52% | 53% |
| White students | 63% | 78% |
| Black students | 14% | 3.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 11% | 6.7% |
| Asian students | 4.3% | 3.8% |
| Two or more races | 4.3% | 5.3% |
| Other / not reported | 2% | 1.5% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 36% | 25% |
| Part-time students | 13% | 2.9% |
| Students age 25+ | 14% | 4% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $12,353/yr | $13,098/yr |
| Endowment | $153.6M | $1.2B |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 2,518 | 8,700 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | Land-grant institution |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | Yes — Army, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | No | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FBS | NCAA Division I-FBS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 13 | 16 |
| Student athletes | 406 | 636 |
| Athletic scholarships | $9.9M | $23.7M |
| Athletics budget | $40.0M | $285.4M |
| Athletics revenue | $40.0M | $285.4M |
| Recruiting spend | $636,681 | $5.1M |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.