Tennessee State University acceptance rate and admissions profile
With an acceptance rate near 70%, Tennessee State University is a moderately selective public university in Tennessee. Because it admits more applicants than it rejects, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.
Use this page to see what Tennessee State University weighs, where it ranks among Tennessee schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1050, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
Will I get into Tennessee State University?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Tennessee State University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into Tennessee State University?
Tennessee State University admits most qualified applicants (around 70%), but that overall rate is not your personal chance. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Tennessee State University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is Tennessee State University hard to get into?
Tennessee State University is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 70% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.
What GPA do you need to get into Tennessee State University?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at Tennessee State University, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. Tennessee State University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
What SAT score do you need for Tennessee State University?
Tennessee State University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1050. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Tennessee State University.
What Tennessee State University looks for
What Tennessee State University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.
In its review, Tennessee State University leans most on rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Tennessee State University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.
SAT score positioning at Tennessee State University
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.
How Tennessee State University compares in Tennessee
Tennessee State University ranks #18 most selective of 33 schools in Tennessee in our database.
Among the 33 Tennessee schools we track, Tennessee State University ranks #18 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Vanderbilt University (6%) and Fisk University (37%) sit nearby, which makes Tennessee a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.
Similar to Tennessee State University
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
Build around Tennessee State University with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Northern Illinois University, SUNY Oneonta, and Kennesaw State University. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.
Frequently asked questions
What does Tennessee State University value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, Tennessee State University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does Tennessee State University favor in-state applicants?
As a public university, Tennessee State University generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.
How can I improve my chances at Tennessee State University?
Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Tennessee State University specifically.
How does residency affect admission to Tennessee State University?
As a public university, Tennessee State University typically admits in-state students at a higher rate, and tuition differs sharply by residency. Select your home state in the calculator to fold the in-state effect into your estimate.
What are the admission requirements for Tennessee State University?
Tennessee State University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.
Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.