ISU vs. Tennessee State University

Deciding between Idaho State University and Tennessee State University? 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.

Idaho State University
Tennessee State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Pocatello, ID
  • Tennessee State University Nashville, TN
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • Tennessee State University Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 13,061
  • Tennessee State University 6,310
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • Tennessee State University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU
  • Tennessee State University #973
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • Tennessee State University -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Tennessee State University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • Tennessee State University
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $8,610
  • Tennessee State University $8,616
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $27,720
  • Tennessee State University $22,416
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $7,882
  • Tennessee State University $11,150
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $12,174
  • Tennessee State University $14,586
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $9,217
  • Tennessee State University $9,661
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 91%
  • Tennessee State University 67%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU -
  • Tennessee State University 9,660
  • Admitted
  • ISU -
  • Tennessee State University 6,773
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU Open
  • Tennessee State University 70.1% Open
  • Enrolled
  • ISU Open
  • Tennessee State University 13% Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU
  • Tennessee State University 970
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU
  • Tennessee State University 18
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.41
  • Tennessee State University 3.22
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU B+
  • Tennessee State University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Unavailable
  • Tennessee State University Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • Tennessee State University Low
  • ACT Range
  • ISU
  • Tennessee State University 16/21
  • SAT Range
  • ISU
  • Tennessee State University 880/1050
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Open admission
  • Tennessee State University Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU
  • Tennessee State University
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 14:1
  • Tennessee State University 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Health Professions (24%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
    • Biology (5%)
  • Tennessee State University
    • Health Professions (25%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 26%
  • Tennessee State University 36%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $42,300
  • Tennessee State University $38,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 47%
  • Tennessee State University 29%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $22,950
  • Tennessee State University $28,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $237
  • Tennessee State University $289
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 41%
  • Tennessee State University 35%
  • % Women
  • ISU 59%
  • Tennessee State University 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Medium
  • Tennessee State University Medium
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • Tennessee State University Yes
  • % White
  • ISU 67%
  • Tennessee State University 14%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 1%
  • Tennessee State University 1%
  • % Black
  • ISU 1%
  • Tennessee State University 70%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 10%
  • Tennessee State University 1%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 1%
  • Tennessee State University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • Tennessee State University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 3%
  • Tennessee State University 3%
  • % International
  • ISU 14%
  • Tennessee State University 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 2%
  • Tennessee State University 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 84%
  • Tennessee State University 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 8%
  • Tennessee State University 57%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ISU Yes
  • Tennessee State University Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ISU No
  • Tennessee State University No
  • Meal Plan
  • ISU Yes
  • Tennessee State University Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ISU Yes
  • Tennessee State University No
  • Daycare Facility
  • ISU Yes
  • Tennessee State University Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID with Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Idaho State University is larger than Tennessee State University based on total student enrollment (13,061 students vs. 6,310 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Idaho State University is located in Pocatello, ID (Small City setting); Tennessee State University is in Nashville, TN (Large City setting).
  • Idaho State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Tennessee State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Idaho State University 14:1; Tennessee State University 13:1.

ISU vs. Tennessee State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or Tennessee State University? 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 Idaho State University than Tennessee State University ($12,174 vs. $14,586).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Idaho State University are 29.3% lower than at Tennessee State University ($7,882 vs. $11,150).
  • Tennessee State University is 0.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $6 more per year; $8,616.00 vs. $8,610.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.7% higher at ISU than at Tennessee State University (about $5,304 more per year; $27,720.00 vs. $22,416.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Idaho State University than at Tennessee State University (91% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tennessee State University students is 4.8% larger than aid received by Idaho State University students ($9,661 vs. $9,217).

ISU vs. Tennessee State University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU or Tennessee State University? 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 Tennessee State University and ISU.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsTennessee State University 880/1050.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsTennessee State University 16/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Open admission; Tennessee State University - Open admission.
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Tennessee State University (3.22).

ISU vs. Tennessee State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and Tennessee State University? 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).

  • Tennessee State University's six-year graduation rate (36%) is higher than Idaho State University's (26%).
  • Graduates from Idaho State University earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than Tennessee State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,300 vs. $38,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Idaho State University graduates have a $5,050 lower median loan debt than Tennessee State University graduates ($22,950 vs. $28,000).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tennessee State University graduates ($237 vs. $289).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tennessee State University students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 29%)

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.