AAMU vs. The University of Tennessee Southern

Deciding between Alabama A & M University and The University of Tennessee Southern? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Alabama A & M University
The University of Tennessee Southern

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AAMU Normal, AL
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Pulaski, TN
  • Setting
  • AAMU Midsize City
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • AAMU 7,295
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 1,046
  • Type
  • AAMU Public 4 Year
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AAMU #1011
  • The University of Tennessee Southern #907
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AAMU -
  • The University of Tennessee Southern United Methodist
  • Status
  • AAMU Non-profit
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AAMU
  • The University of Tennessee Southern
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AAMU $10,024
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $10,924
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AAMU $18,634
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $10,924
  • Room & Board
  • AAMU $11,402
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $8,300
  • Average Net Price
  • AAMU $17,152
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $14,546
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AAMU $12,844
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $10,358
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AAMU 86%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 99%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AAMU 23,406
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 760
  • Admitted
  • AAMU 13,564
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 659
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AAMU 58%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 86.7% Open
  • Enrolled
  • AAMU 14.5%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 26.1% Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • AAMU 930
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 1010
  • Typical ACT score
  • AAMU 16
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • AAMU 3.02
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 3.17
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AAMU B
  • The University of Tennessee Southern B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • AAMU Extremely Easy
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • AAMU Low
  • The University of Tennessee Southern
  • ACT Range
  • AAMU 14/19
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 18/24
  • SAT Range
  • AAMU 810/1040
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 905/1110
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AAMU Test optional
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • AAMU
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Aug 26, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AAMU 19:1
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AAMU
    • Business (19%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Human Services (6%)
  • The University of Tennessee Southern
    • Business (18%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AAMU 32%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 49%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AAMU $34,300
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $34,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AAMU 25%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 43%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AAMU $35,000
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $22,315
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AAMU $361
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $230
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AAMU 41%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 39%
  • % Women
  • AAMU 59%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AAMU Extremely Low
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Low
  • HBCU
  • AAMU Yes
  • The University of Tennessee Southern No
  • % White
  • AAMU 3%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 73%
  • % Asian
  • AAMU 0%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 0%
  • % Black
  • AAMU 92%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • AAMU 1%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 2%
  • % Native American
  • AAMU 0%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AAMU 0%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AAMU 0%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 0%
  • % International
  • AAMU 1%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AAMU 3%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 7%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AAMU 45%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 80%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AAMU 54%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 12%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AAMU Yes
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AAMU No
  • The University of Tennessee Southern No
  • Meal Plan
  • AAMU Yes
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AAMU Yes
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • AAMU Yes
  • The University of Tennessee Southern No
  • Learn More
  • AAMU Details
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Alabama A & M University in Normal, AL with The University of Tennessee Southern in Pulaski, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Alabama A & M University is larger than The University of Tennessee Southern based on total student enrollment (7,295 students vs. 1,046 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Alabama A & M University is located in Normal, AL (Midsize City setting); The University of Tennessee Southern is in Pulaski, TN (Distant Town setting).
  • Alabama A & M University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Tennessee Southern is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Alabama A & M University 19:1; The University of Tennessee Southern 14:1.

AAMU vs. The University of Tennessee Southern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AAMU or The University of Tennessee Southern? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee Southern than AAMU ($14,546 vs. $17,152).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee Southern are 27.2% lower than at Alabama A & M University ($8,300 vs. $11,402).
  • The University of Tennessee Southern is 9% more expensive for in-state tuition than AAMU (about $900 more per year; $10,924.00 vs. $10,024.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 70.6% higher at AAMU than at The University of Tennessee Southern (about $7,710 more per year; $18,634.00 vs. $10,924.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Tennessee Southern than at Alabama A & M University (99% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alabama A & M University students is 24% larger than aid received by The University of Tennessee Southern students ($12,844 vs. $10,358).

AAMU vs. The University of Tennessee Southern Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AAMU or The University of Tennessee Southern? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between The University of Tennessee Southern and AAMU.

  • The University of Tennessee Southern reports an open admissions policy.
  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Tennessee Southern (1010) is 80 points higher than at AAMU (930).
  • Incoming The University of Tennessee Southern students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 16 at AAMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Alabama A & M University 810/1040; The University of Tennessee Southern 905/1110.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Alabama A & M University 14/19; The University of Tennessee Southern 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AAMU - Test optional; The University of Tennessee Southern - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: The University of Tennessee Southern Aug 26, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman The University of Tennessee Southern students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.17) than students at AAMU (3.02).
  • The University of Tennessee Southern has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than AAMU (58%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.5% at AAMU vs. 26.1% at The University of Tennessee Southern.

AAMU vs. The University of Tennessee Southern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AAMU and The University of Tennessee Southern? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • The University of Tennessee Southern's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Alabama A & M University's (32%).
  • Graduates from The University of Tennessee Southern earn a median of about $600 more per year than AAMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,900 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Tennessee Southern graduates have a $12,685 lower median loan debt than AAMU graduates ($22,315 vs. $35,000).
  • Among borrowers, The University of Tennessee Southern graduates have an estimated $131 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AAMU graduates ($230 vs. $361).
  • More The University of Tennessee Southern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AAMU students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 25%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.