Tennessee State University vs. Marshall University

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

Tennessee State University Marshall University
Location Nashville, TN Huntington, WV
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 8,198 11,027
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #998 #825
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website tnstate.edu marshall.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Tennessee State University Marshall University
Tuition (In State) $7,320 $7,372
Tuition (Out of State) $21,036 $18,724
Room & Board $10,120 $12,852
Avg Net Price $9,231 $9,734
Avg Grant Aid $15,589 $12,024
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 96%

Admission

Tennessee State University Marshall University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,890 6,499
Admitted 11,940 6,269
Acceptance Rate 92.6%Open 96.5%
Enrolled % 14.8%Open 27.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.22 3.68
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/21 18/24
SAT Range 856/1068 890/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 10, 2025

Academics

Tennessee State University Marshall University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (25%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Tennessee State University Marshall University
Graduation Rate 36% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $40,200
Making Student Loan Payments 29% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $28,000 $23,134
Median Loan Payment $289 $239

Diversity

Tennessee State University Marshall University
% Men 6% 9%
% Women 11% 17%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 14% 84%
% Black 70% 7%
% Hispanic 1% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 11% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Tennessee State University Marshall University
% In-State 32% 78%
% Out-of-State 65% 22%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Marshall University is larger than than Tennessee State University based on total student enrollment (11,027 students vs. 8,198 students)

Tennessee State University vs. Marshall University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tennessee State University or Marshall University?

  • Marshall University is 0.7% more expensive to attend than Tennessee State University for in-state tuition ($7,372.00 vs. $7,320.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.3% higher at Tennessee State University than Marshall University ($21,036.00 vs. $18,724.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Tennessee State University than Marshall University ($9,231 vs. $9,734)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tennessee State University are 27% lower than costs at Marshall University ($10,120 vs. $12,852)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Marshall University than Tennessee State University (96% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tennessee State University students is 29.6% larger than aid received Marshall University ($15,589 vs. $12,024)

Tennessee State University vs. Marshall University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Marshall University students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Tennessee State University (3.22)
  • Marshall University has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than Tennessee State University (92.6%)

Tennessee State University vs. Marshall University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Tennessee State University or Marshall 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 Marshall University and Tennessee State University.

  • The graduation rate at Marshall University is higher than Tennessee State University (44% vs. 36%)
  • Graduates from Marshall University earn on average $1,800 more per year than Tennessee State University graduates after ten years. ($40,200 vs. $38,400)
  • Marshall University students graduate with a $4,866 lower median federal student loan debt than Tennessee State University graduates. ($23,134 vs. $28,000)
  • Marshall University graduates are paying $50 less per month on federal student loans than Tennessee State University graduates. ($239 vs. $289)
  • More Marshall University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tennessee State University students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 29%)

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