Mississippi Valley State University vs. Tennessee State University

Deciding between Mississippi Valley 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.

Mississippi Valley State University
Tennessee State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Mississippi Valley State University Itta Bena, MS
  • Tennessee State University Nashville, TN
  • Setting
  • Mississippi Valley State University Remote Town
  • Tennessee State University Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Mississippi Valley State University 2,205
  • Tennessee State University 6,310
  • Type
  • Mississippi Valley State University Public 4 Year
  • Tennessee State University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Mississippi Valley State University #1005
  • Tennessee State University #973
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Mississippi Valley State University -
  • Tennessee State University -
  • Status
  • Mississippi Valley State University Non-profit
  • Tennessee State University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Mississippi Valley State University
  • Tennessee State University
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Mississippi Valley State University $7,692
  • Tennessee State University $8,616
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Mississippi Valley State University $7,692
  • Tennessee State University $22,416
  • Room & Board
  • Mississippi Valley State University $8,956
  • Tennessee State University $11,150
  • Average Net Price
  • Mississippi Valley State University $10,232
  • Tennessee State University $14,586
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Mississippi Valley State University $10,933
  • Tennessee State University $9,661
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Mississippi Valley State University 100%
  • Tennessee State University 67%
  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Mississippi Valley State University Calculate
  • Tennessee State University Calculate
  • Applied
  • Mississippi Valley State University 1,141
  • Tennessee State University 9,660
  • Admitted
  • Mississippi Valley State University 1,054
  • Tennessee State University 6,773
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Mississippi Valley State University 92.4%
  • Tennessee State University 70.1% Open
  • Enrolled
  • Mississippi Valley State University 32.3%
  • Tennessee State University 13% Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Mississippi Valley State University
  • Tennessee State University 970
  • Typical ACT score
  • Mississippi Valley State University 17
  • Tennessee State University 18
  • Average High School GPA
  • Mississippi Valley State University 2.9
  • Tennessee State University 3.22
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Mississippi Valley State University B
  • Tennessee State University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Mississippi Valley State University Extremely Easy
  • Tennessee State University Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Mississippi Valley State University
  • Tennessee State University Low
  • ACT Range
  • Mississippi Valley State University 13/22
  • Tennessee State University 16/21
  • SAT Range
  • Mississippi Valley State University
  • Tennessee State University 880/1050
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Mississippi Valley State University Test optional
  • Tennessee State University Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Mississippi Valley State University
  • Tennessee State University
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Mississippi Valley State University 13:1
  • Tennessee State University 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Mississippi Valley State University
    • Education (29%)
    • Business (23%)
    • Human Services (19%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • 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
  • Mississippi Valley State University 24%
  • Tennessee State University 36%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Mississippi Valley State University $26,600
  • Tennessee State University $38,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Mississippi Valley State University 35%
  • Tennessee State University 29%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Mississippi Valley State University $29,336
  • Tennessee State University $28,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Mississippi Valley State University $303
  • Tennessee State University $289
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Mississippi Valley State University 47%
  • Tennessee State University 35%
  • % Women
  • Mississippi Valley State University 53%
  • Tennessee State University 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Mississippi Valley State University Extremely Low
  • Tennessee State University Medium
  • HBCU
  • Mississippi Valley State University Yes
  • Tennessee State University Yes
  • % White
  • Mississippi Valley State University 3%
  • Tennessee State University 14%
  • % Asian
  • Mississippi Valley State University 0%
  • Tennessee State University 1%
  • % Black
  • Mississippi Valley State University 92%
  • Tennessee State University 70%
  • % Hispanic
  • Mississippi Valley State University 1%
  • Tennessee State University 1%
  • % Native American
  • Mississippi Valley State University 0%
  • Tennessee State University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Mississippi Valley State University 0%
  • Tennessee State University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Mississippi Valley State University 0%
  • Tennessee State University 3%
  • % International
  • Mississippi Valley State University 0%
  • Tennessee State University 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Mississippi Valley State University 4%
  • Tennessee State University 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Mississippi Valley State University 40%
  • Tennessee State University 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Mississippi Valley State University 57%
  • Tennessee State University 57%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Mississippi Valley State University Yes
  • Tennessee State University Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Mississippi Valley State University No
  • Tennessee State University No
  • Meal Plan
  • Mississippi Valley State University Yes
  • Tennessee State University Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Mississippi Valley State University Yes
  • Tennessee State University No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Mississippi Valley State University Yes
  • Tennessee State University Yes
  • Learn More
  • Mississippi Valley State University Details
  • Tennessee State University Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, MS with Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Tennessee State University is larger than Mississippi Valley State University based on total student enrollment (6,310 students vs. 2,205 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mississippi Valley State University is located in Itta Bena, MS (Remote Town setting); Tennessee State University is in Nashville, TN (Large City setting).
  • Mississippi Valley 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: Mississippi Valley State University 13:1; Tennessee State University 13:1.

Mississippi Valley State University vs. Tennessee State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mississippi Valley State University 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 Mississippi Valley State University than Tennessee State University ($10,232 vs. $14,586).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mississippi Valley State University are 19.7% lower than at Tennessee State University ($8,956 vs. $11,150).
  • Tennessee State University is 12% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mississippi Valley State University (about $924 more per year; $8,616.00 vs. $7,692.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 191.4% higher at Tennessee State University than at Mississippi Valley State University (about $14,724 more per year; $22,416.00 vs. $7,692.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mississippi Valley State University than at Tennessee State University (100% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mississippi Valley State University students is 13.2% larger than aid received by Tennessee State University students ($10,933 vs. $9,661).

Mississippi Valley State University vs. Tennessee State University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mississippi Valley State University 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 Mississippi Valley State University.

  • Tennessee State University reports an open admissions policy.
  • Incoming Tennessee State University students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (18 vs. 17 at Mississippi Valley State University).
  • 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 students: Mississippi Valley State University 13/22; Tennessee State University 16/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mississippi Valley State University - Test optional; Tennessee State University - Open admission.
  • Accepted freshman Tennessee State University students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.22) than students at Mississippi Valley State University (2.9).
  • Mississippi Valley State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.4%) than Tennessee State University (70.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 32.3% at Mississippi Valley State University vs. 13% at Tennessee State University.

Mississippi Valley State University vs. Tennessee State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mississippi Valley State University 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 Mississippi Valley State University's (24%).
  • Graduates from Tennessee State University earn a median of about $11,800 more per year than Mississippi Valley State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,400 vs. $26,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Tennessee State University graduates have a $1,336 lower median loan debt than Mississippi Valley State University graduates ($28,000 vs. $29,336).
  • Among borrowers, Tennessee State University graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mississippi Valley State University graduates ($289 vs. $303).
  • More Mississippi Valley State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tennessee State University students, three years after graduation. (35% 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.