The University of Tennessee Southern vs. Ferrum College

Deciding between The University of Tennessee Southern and Ferrum College? 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.

The University of Tennessee Southern
Ferrum College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Pulaski, TN
  • Ferrum College Ferrum, VA
  • Setting
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Distant Town
  • Ferrum College Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 1,046
  • Ferrum College 763
  • Type
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Private 4 Year
  • Ferrum College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • The University of Tennessee Southern #907
  • Ferrum College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • The University of Tennessee Southern United Methodist
  • Ferrum College United Methodist
  • Status
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Non-profit
  • Ferrum College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • The University of Tennessee Southern
  • Ferrum College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $10,924
  • Ferrum College $28,520
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $10,924
  • Ferrum College $28,520
  • Room & Board
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $8,300
  • Ferrum College $13,230
  • Average Net Price
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $14,546
  • Ferrum College $20,082
  • Average Grant Aid
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $10,358
  • Ferrum College $34,444
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 99%
  • Ferrum College 98%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Calculate
  • Ferrum College Calculate
  • Applied
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 760
  • Ferrum College 1,787
  • Admitted
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 659
  • Ferrum College 1,590
  • Acceptance Rate
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 86.7% Open
  • Ferrum College 89%
  • Enrolled
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 26.1% Open
  • Ferrum College 11.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 1010
  • Ferrum College 990
  • Typical ACT score
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 21
  • Ferrum College
  • Average High School GPA
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 3.17
  • Ferrum College 3.14
  • Typical High School Grades
  • The University of Tennessee Southern B+
  • Ferrum College B
  • Admissions Standards
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Very Easy
  • Ferrum College Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • The University of Tennessee Southern
  • Ferrum College
  • ACT Range
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 18/24
  • Ferrum College
  • SAT Range
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 905/1110
  • Ferrum College 880/1100
  • Submit Test Scores
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Open admission
  • Ferrum College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Aug 26, 2027
  • Ferrum College Sep 15, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 14:1
  • Ferrum College 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • 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%)
  • Ferrum College
    • Business (20%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 49%
  • Ferrum College 31%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $34,900
  • Ferrum College $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 43%
  • Ferrum College 49%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $22,315
  • Ferrum College $28,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $230
  • Ferrum College $289

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 39%
  • Ferrum College 59%
  • % Women
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 61%
  • Ferrum College 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Low
  • Ferrum College High
  • HBCU
  • The University of Tennessee Southern No
  • Ferrum College No
  • % White
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 73%
  • Ferrum College 52%
  • % Asian
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 0%
  • Ferrum College 1%
  • % Black
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 11%
  • Ferrum College 34%
  • % Hispanic
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 2%
  • Ferrum College 5%
  • % Native American
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 0%
  • Ferrum College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 0%
  • Ferrum College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 0%
  • Ferrum College 6%
  • % International
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 5%
  • Ferrum College 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 7%
  • Ferrum College 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 80%
  • Ferrum College 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 12%
  • Ferrum College 34%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

The University of Tennessee Southern is larger than Ferrum College based on total student enrollment (1,046 students vs. 763 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The University of Tennessee Southern is located in Pulaski, TN (Distant Town setting); Ferrum College is in Ferrum, VA (Distant Rural setting).
  • The University of Tennessee Southern is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ferrum College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: The University of Tennessee Southern 14:1; Ferrum College 11:1.

The University of Tennessee Southern vs. Ferrum College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, The University of Tennessee Southern or Ferrum College? 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 Ferrum College ($14,546 vs. $20,082).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee Southern are 37.3% lower than at Ferrum College ($8,300 vs. $13,230).
  • Ferrum College is 161.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than The University of Tennessee Southern (about $17,596 more per year; $28,520.00 vs. $10,924.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 161.1% higher at Ferrum College than at The University of Tennessee Southern (about $17,596 more per year; $28,520.00 vs. $10,924.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Tennessee Southern than at Ferrum College (99% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ferrum College students is 232.5% larger than aid received by The University of Tennessee Southern students ($34,444 vs. $10,358).

The University of Tennessee Southern vs. Ferrum College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, The University of Tennessee Southern or Ferrum College? 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 Ferrum College and The University of Tennessee Southern.

  • 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 Ferrum College (990).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Tennessee Southern 905/1110; Ferrum College 880/1100.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Tennessee Southern 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: The University of Tennessee Southern - Open admission; Ferrum College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: The University of Tennessee Southern Aug 26, 2027; Ferrum College Sep 15, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman The University of Tennessee Southern students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.17) than students at Ferrum College (3.14).
  • Ferrum College has a higher acceptance rate (89%) than The University of Tennessee Southern (86.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.1% at The University of Tennessee Southern vs. 11.5% at Ferrum College.

The University of Tennessee Southern vs. Ferrum College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for The University of Tennessee Southern and Ferrum College? 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 Ferrum College's (31%).
  • Graduates from Ferrum College earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than The University of Tennessee Southern graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Tennessee Southern graduates have a $5,685 lower median loan debt than Ferrum College graduates ($22,315 vs. $28,000).
  • Among borrowers, The University of Tennessee Southern graduates have an estimated $59 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ferrum College graduates ($230 vs. $289).
  • More Ferrum College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The University of Tennessee Southern students, three years after graduation. (49% 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.