South Carolina State University vs. Tennessee State University

Should I go to South Carolina State University or Tennessee State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if South Carolina State University or 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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South Carolina State University vs. Tennessee State University comparison
South Carolina State University Tennessee State University College 3 College 4
South Carolina State University Tennessee State University
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Overview

South Carolina State University Tennessee State University
Location Orangeburg, SC Nashville, TN
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 2,649 9,218
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1011
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website scsu.edu tnstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

South Carolina State University Tennessee State University
Tuition (In State) $9,528 $7,128
Tuition (Out of State) $20,218 $20,484
Room & Board $9,000 $8,542
Avg Net Price $17,435 $11,986
Avg Grant Aid $15,873 $17,315
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 98%

Admission

South Carolina State University Tennessee State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,833 -
Admitted 5,733 -
Acceptance Rate 83.9% Open
Enrolled % 15.7% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.22
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/19
SAT Range 800/1050
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 31, 2025

Academics

South Carolina State University Tennessee State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Health Professions (25%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

South Carolina State University Tennessee State University
Graduation Rate 35% 36%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $31,000 $38,400
Making Student Loan Payments 27% 29%
Median Student Loan Debt $33,205 $28,000
Median Loan Payment $343 $289

Diversity

South Carolina State University Tennessee State University
% Men 44% 34%
% Women 56% 66%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Low
HBCU Yes Yes
% White 2% 14%
% Black 96% 70%
% Hispanic 0% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 0% 11%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

South Carolina State University Tennessee State University
% In-State 77% 38%
% Out-of-State 23% 61%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Tennessee State University is larger than than South Carolina State University based on total student enrollment (9,218 students vs. 2,649 students)

South Carolina State University vs. Tennessee State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, South Carolina State University or Tennessee State University?

  • South Carolina State University is 33.7% more expensive to attend than Tennessee State University for in-state tuition ($9,528.00 vs. $7,128.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.3% higher at Tennessee State University than South Carolina State University ($20,484.00 vs. $20,218.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Tennessee State University than South Carolina State University ($11,986 vs. $17,435)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tennessee State University are 5.4% lower than costs at South Carolina State University ($8,542 vs. $9,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Tennessee State University than South Carolina State University (98% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tennessee State University students is 9.1% larger than aid received South Carolina State University ($17,315 vs. $15,873)

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

  • Accepted freshman Tennessee State University students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.22) than students at South Carolina State University (3.17)

South Carolina State University vs. Tennessee State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, South Carolina State University or 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 Tennessee State University and South Carolina State University.

  • The graduation rate at Tennessee State University is higher than South Carolina State University (36% vs. 35%)
  • Graduates from Tennessee State University earn on average $7,400 more per year than South Carolina State University graduates after ten years. ($38,400 vs. $31,000)
  • Tennessee State University students graduate with a $5,205 lower median federal student loan debt than South Carolina State University graduates. ($28,000 vs. $33,205)
  • Tennessee State University graduates are paying $54 less per month on federal student loans than South Carolina State University graduates. ($289 vs. $343)
  • More Tennessee State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former South Carolina State University students, three years after graduation. (29% vs. 27%)

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