Tennessee State University vs. Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte

Deciding between Tennessee State University and Johnson & Wales University Charlotte? 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.

Tennessee State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Tennessee State University Nashville, TN
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Charlotte, NC
  • Setting
  • Tennessee State University Large City
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Tennessee State University 6,310
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 1,184
  • Type
  • Tennessee State University Public 4 Year
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Tennessee State University #973
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte #806
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Tennessee State University -
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte -
  • Status
  • Tennessee State University Non-profit
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Non-profit
  • Website
  • Tennessee State University tnstate.edu
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte jwu.edu
  • Team Colors
  • Tennessee State University
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Tennessee State University $8,616
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte $42,419
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Tennessee State University $22,416
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte $42,419
  • Room & Board
  • Tennessee State University $11,150
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte $14,800
  • Average Net Price
  • Tennessee State University $14,586
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte $28,084
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Tennessee State University $9,661
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte $30,033
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Tennessee State University 67%
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 100%
  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Tennessee State University Calculate
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Calculate
  • Applied
  • Tennessee State University 9,660
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 4,105
  • Admitted
  • Tennessee State University 6,773
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 3,279
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Tennessee State University 70.1% Open
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 79.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Tennessee State University 13% Open
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 13.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Tennessee State University 970
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 1010
  • Typical ACT score
  • Tennessee State University 18
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • Tennessee State University 3.22
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Tennessee State University B+
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Tennessee State University Extremely Easy
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Tennessee State University Low
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte
  • ACT Range
  • Tennessee State University 16/21
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 16/23
  • SAT Range
  • Tennessee State University 880/1050
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 880/1130
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Tennessee State University Open admission
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Tennessee State University
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Tennessee State University 13:1
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Tennessee State University
    • Health Professions (25%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte
    • Personal and Culinary Services (59%)
    • Work and Family Studies (20%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (4%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Tennessee State University 36%
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 49%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Tennessee State University $38,400
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte $40,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Tennessee State University 29%
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 66%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Tennessee State University $28,000
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte $26,900
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Tennessee State University $289
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte $278
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Tennessee State University 35%
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 35%
  • % Women
  • Tennessee State University 65%
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Tennessee State University Medium
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte High
  • HBCU
  • Tennessee State University Yes
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte No
  • % White
  • Tennessee State University 14%
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 43%
  • % Asian
  • Tennessee State University 1%
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 1%
  • % Black
  • Tennessee State University 70%
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 37%
  • % Hispanic
  • Tennessee State University 1%
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 6%
  • % Native American
  • Tennessee State University 0%
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Tennessee State University 0%
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Tennessee State University 3%
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 7%
  • % International
  • Tennessee State University 11%
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Tennessee State University 0%
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 5%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Tennessee State University 41%
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 34%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Tennessee State University 57%
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 66%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Tennessee State University Yes
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Tennessee State University No
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte No
  • Meal Plan
  • Tennessee State University Yes
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Tennessee State University No
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Tennessee State University Yes
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte No
  • Learn More
  • Tennessee State University Details
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN with Johnson & Wales University Charlotte in Charlotte, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Tennessee State University is larger than Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte based on total student enrollment (6,310 students vs. 1,184 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Tennessee State University is located in Nashville, TN (Large City setting); Johnson & Wales University Charlotte is in Charlotte, NC (Large City setting).
  • Tennessee State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Johnson & Wales University Charlotte is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Tennessee State University 13:1; Johnson & Wales University Charlotte 14:1.

Tennessee State University vs. Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tennessee State University or Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte? 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 Tennessee State University than Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte ($14,586 vs. $28,084).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tennessee State University are 24.7% lower than at Johnson & Wales University Charlotte ($11,150 vs. $14,800).
  • Johnson & Wales University Charlotte is 392.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tennessee State University (about $33,803 more per year; $42,419.00 vs. $8,616.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 89.2% higher at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte than at Tennessee State University (about $20,003 more per year; $42,419.00 vs. $22,416.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Johnson & Wales University Charlotte than at Tennessee State University (100% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Johnson & Wales University Charlotte students is 210.9% larger than aid received by Tennessee State University students ($30,033 vs. $9,661).

Tennessee State University vs. Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Tennessee State University or Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte? 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 Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte and Tennessee State University.

  • Tennessee State University reports an open admissions policy.
  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Johnson & Wales University Charlotte (1010) is 40 points higher than at Tennessee State University (970).
  • Incoming Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (19 vs. 18 at Tennessee State University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tennessee State University 880/1050; Johnson & Wales University Charlotte 880/1130.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tennessee State University 16/21; Johnson & Wales University Charlotte 16/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tennessee State University - Open admission; Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte - Test optional.
  • Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte has a higher acceptance rate (79.9%) than Tennessee State University (70.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13% at Tennessee State University vs. 13.7% at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte.

Tennessee State University vs. Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tennessee State University and Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte? 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).

  • Johnson & Wales University Charlotte's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Tennessee State University's (36%).
  • Graduates from Johnson & Wales University Charlotte earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than Tennessee State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,100 vs. $38,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Johnson & Wales University Charlotte graduates have a $1,100 lower median loan debt than Tennessee State University graduates ($26,900 vs. $28,000).
  • Among borrowers, Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tennessee State University graduates ($278 vs. $289).
  • More Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tennessee State University students, three years after graduation. (66% 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.