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Tennessee Tech CofC Tennessee WKU Middle Tennessee State University Georgia State Memphis Austin Peay State University GS Ohio University Belmont PC| Charleston Southern University | The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
CSU | UTC | ||
| Location | Charleston, SC | Chattanooga, TN | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 3,545 | 11,380 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #915 | #815 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Baptist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | csuniv.edu | utc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CSU | UTC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $30,380 | $8,232 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,380 | $16,296 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,590 | $10,052 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,347 | $13,801 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $22,411 | $9,834 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 93% |
Admission |
CSU | UTC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,072 | 9,096 | ||
| Admitted | 4,620 | 7,006 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 76.1% | 77% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.7% | 34% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.24 | 3.61 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 17/24 | 20/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 950/1160 | 1005/1185 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline | May 1, 2026 |
Academics |
CSU | UTC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CSU | UTC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 38% | 39% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,800 | $40,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 50% | 56% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $20,792 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $214 |
Diversity |
CSU | UTC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 7% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 61% | 75% | ||
| % Black | 26% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 7% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
CSU | UTC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 73% | 88% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 24% | 11% | ||
Campus |
CSU | UTC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is larger than than CSU based on total student enrollment (11,380 students vs. 3,545 students)
CSU vs. UTC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CSU or UTC?
- Charleston Southern University is 269% more expensive to attend than UTC for in-state tuition ($30,380.00 vs. $8,232.00)
- Out of state tuition is 86.4% higher at CSU than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($30,380.00 vs. $16,296.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga than CSU ($13,801 vs. $21,347)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are 15.3% lower than costs at Charleston Southern University ($10,052 vs. $11,590)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Charleston Southern University than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (98% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Charleston Southern University students is 127.9% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($22,411 vs. $9,834)
CSU vs. UTC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CSU or UTC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UTC or CSU .
- The average SAT score at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (1087) is 57 points higher than at CSU (1030)
- Incoming UTC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at CSU (23)
- Accepted freshman UTC students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at CSU (3.24)
- UTC has a higher acceptance rate (77%) than CSU (76.1%)
CSU vs. UTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CSU or UTC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UTC and CSU.
- The graduation rate at UTC is higher than Charleston Southern University (39% vs. 38%)
- Graduates from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga earn on average $800 more per year than CSU graduates after ten years. ($40,600 vs. $39,800)
- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students graduate with a $6,208 lower median federal student loan debt than CSU graduates. ($20,792 vs. $27,000)
- UTC graduates are paying $65 less per month on federal student loans than CSU graduates. ($214 vs. $279)
- More UTC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 50%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/