Principia College vs. Middle Tennessee State University

Should I go to Principia College or Middle Tennessee State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Principia College or Middle Tennessee State University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Principia College vs. Middle Tennessee State University comparison
Principia College Middle Tennessee State University College 3 College 4
Middle Tennessee State University
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Overview

Principia College Middle Tennessee State University
Location Elsah, Illinois Murfreesboro, TN
Setting Rural Fringe Midsize City
Enrollment 338 20,183
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #666
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website principiacollege.edu mtsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Principia College Middle Tennessee State University
Tuition (In State) $32,250 $7,536
Tuition (Out of State) $32,250 $27,072
Room & Board $13,370 $11,704
Avg Net Price $14,904 $12,700
Avg Grant Aid $32,096 $9,942
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 93%

Admission

Principia College Middle Tennessee State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 268 14,763
Admitted 119 10,039
Acceptance Rate 44.4% 68%
Enrolled % 70.6% 31.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.34 3.64
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 19/23 19/26
SAT Range 1040/1250 1000/1230
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2026

Academics

Principia College Middle Tennessee State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 5:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • General Studies (9%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Principia College Middle Tennessee State University
Graduation Rate - 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) N/A $42,300
Making Student Loan Payments - 50%
Median Student Loan Debt N/A $21,758
Median Loan Payment N/A $224

Diversity

Principia College Middle Tennessee State University
% Men 0% 5%
% Women 0% 8%
Racial Diversity - Medium
HBCU No No
% White 0% 64%
% Black 0% 22%
% Hispanic 0% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 0% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Principia College Middle Tennessee State University
% In-State 3% 89%
% Out-of-State 41% 9%

Campus

Principia College Middle Tennessee State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Middle Tennessee State University is larger than than Principia College based on total student enrollment (20,183 students vs. 338 students)

Principia College vs. Middle Tennessee State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Principia College or Middle Tennessee State University?

  • Principia College is 327.9% more expensive to attend than Middle Tennessee State University for in-state tuition ($32,250.00 vs. $7,536.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 19.1% higher at Principia College than Middle Tennessee State University ($32,250.00 vs. $27,072.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Middle Tennessee State University than Principia College ($12,700 vs. $14,904)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Middle Tennessee State University are 14.2% lower than costs at Principia College ($11,704 vs. $13,370)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Middle Tennessee State University than Principia College (93% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Principia College students is 222.8% larger than aid received Middle Tennessee State University ($32,096 vs. $9,942)

Principia College vs. Middle Tennessee State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Principia College or Middle Tennessee State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Middle Tennessee State University or Principia College .

  • Accepted freshman Middle Tennessee State University students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at Principia College (3.34)
  • Middle Tennessee State University has a higher acceptance rate (68%) than Principia College (44.4%)

Principia College vs. Middle Tennessee State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Principia College or Middle Tennessee State University? 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 Middle Tennessee State University and Principia College.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/