Friends University vs. The University of Tennessee Southern

Comparable Facts

Compare Friends University in Wichita, KS with The University of Tennessee Southern in Pulaski, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Friends University is larger than The University of Tennessee Southern based on total student enrollment (1,961 students vs. 1,046 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Friends University is located in Wichita, KS (Large City setting); The University of Tennessee Southern is in Pulaski, TN (Distant Town setting).
• Friends University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Tennessee Southern is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Friends University 12:1; The University of Tennessee Southern 14:1.

Friends University vs. The University of Tennessee Southern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Friends University 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 Friends University ($14,546 vs. $28,889).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee Southern are 26.5% lower than at Friends University ($8,300 vs. $11,295).
• Friends University is 213% more expensive for in-state tuition than The University of Tennessee Southern (about $23,268 more per year; $34,192.00 vs. $10,924.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 213% higher at Friends University than at The University of Tennessee Southern (about $23,268 more per year; $34,192.00 vs. $10,924.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Friends University than at The University of Tennessee Southern (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Friends University students is 108.3% larger than aid received by The University of Tennessee Southern students ($21,579 vs. $10,358).

Friends University vs. The University of Tennessee Southern Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Friends University 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 Friends University.

• The University of Tennessee Southern reports an open admissions policy.
• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Friends University (1030) is 20 points higher than at The University of Tennessee Southern (1010).
• Incoming Friends University students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 21) as students at The University of Tennessee Southern (21).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Friends University 960/1090; The University of Tennessee Southern 905/1110.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Friends University 15/28; The University of Tennessee Southern 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Friends University - Test optional; The University of Tennessee Southern - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: The University of Tennessee Southern Aug 26, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Friends University students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at The University of Tennessee Southern (3.17).
• The University of Tennessee Southern has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than Friends University (55.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 44.7% at Friends University vs. 26.1% at The University of Tennessee Southern.

Friends University vs. The University of Tennessee Southern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Friends University 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 Friends University's (27%).
• Graduates from Friends University earn a median of about $11,600 more per year than The University of Tennessee Southern graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,500 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Tennessee Southern graduates have a $2,197 lower median loan debt than Friends University graduates ($22,315 vs. $24,512).
• Among borrowers, The University of Tennessee Southern graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Friends University graduates ($230 vs. $253).
• More Friends University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The University of Tennessee Southern students, three years after graduation. (54% 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.