ATU vs. The University of Tennessee Southern

Comparable Facts

Compare Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, AR with The University of Tennessee Southern in Pulaski, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arkansas Tech University is larger than The University of Tennessee Southern based on total student enrollment (8,746 students vs. 1,046 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Arkansas Tech University is located in Russellville, AR (Remote Town setting); The University of Tennessee Southern is in Pulaski, TN (Distant Town setting).
• Arkansas Tech 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: Arkansas Tech University 17:1; The University of Tennessee Southern 14:1.

ATU vs. The University of Tennessee Southern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ATU 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 Arkansas Tech University than The University of Tennessee Southern ($12,626 vs. $14,546).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee Southern are 19.7% lower than at Arkansas Tech University ($8,300 vs. $10,338).
• The University of Tennessee Southern is 25.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than ATU (about $2,250 more per year; $10,924.00 vs. $8,674.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34.3% higher at ATU than at The University of Tennessee Southern (about $3,744 more per year; $14,668.00 vs. $10,924.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Tennessee Southern than at Arkansas Tech University (99% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Tennessee Southern students is 4.6% larger than aid received by Arkansas Tech University students ($10,358 vs. $9,901).

ATU vs. The University of Tennessee Southern Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ATU 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 ATU.

• The University of Tennessee Southern reports an open admissions policy.
• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Tennessee Southern (1010) is 20 points higher than at ATU (990).
• Incoming The University of Tennessee Southern students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 20 at ATU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arkansas Tech University 880/1100; The University of Tennessee Southern 905/1110.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arkansas Tech University 17/23; The University of Tennessee Southern 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ATU - Required; The University of Tennessee Southern - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: The University of Tennessee Southern Aug 26, 2027.
• Accepted freshman ATU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at The University of Tennessee Southern (3.17).
• ATU has a higher acceptance rate (95.9%) than The University of Tennessee Southern (86.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.6% at ATU vs. 26.1% at The University of Tennessee Southern.

ATU vs. The University of Tennessee Southern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ATU 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 Arkansas Tech University's (43%).
• Graduates from Arkansas Tech University earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than The University of Tennessee Southern graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,100 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Arkansas Tech University graduates have a $4,565 lower median loan debt than The University of Tennessee Southern graduates ($17,750 vs. $22,315).
• Among borrowers, ATU graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than The University of Tennessee Southern graduates ($183 vs. $230).
• More ATU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The University of Tennessee Southern students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 43%)

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.