Middle Tennessee State University — College Profile

About

Located just south of Nashville, Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) is a major public institution best known for its world-renowned College of Media and Entertainment, which houses top-tier programs in recording industry studies, commercial music, and audio production. Beyond its music prestige, MTSU distinguishes itself through nationally prominent specialized offerings, including a premier Aerospace flight-training program and a unique Concrete Industry Management degree. Student life is energetic and creative, centered around Division I Blue Raider athletics, a bustling campus community, and state-of-the-art facilities ranging from professional production studios to an expansive flight dispatch center. Combining hands-on technical training with direct industry pipelines into Nashville's booming economy, MTSU offers a career-focused environment uniquely tailored to both creative and applied technical fields.

Wikipedia:Middle Tennessee State University is a public research university in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1911 as a normal school, the university consists of eight undergraduate colleges as well as a college of graduate studies, together offering more than 300 degree programs through more than 35 departments. It is classified among "R2: Universities".

Location

Murfreesboro, TN, 37132 · City campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

BNA · Nashville

26 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$10,266$31,574

Housing & food (on campus)$12,242$12,242

Books & supplies$1,260$1,260

Cost of attendance$24,289$55,090

Average net price$13,359Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$31,574

In-state: $10,266

Housing & food (on campus)$12,242

Books & supplies$1,260

Cost of attendance$55,090

In-state: $24,289

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $13,359

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.mtsu.edu

How it’s made up · out-of-state, 2026-27

Middle Tennessee State University’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$34,888

Books & supplies$1,260

Personal expenses$2,314

Transportation$3,168

Total published by the school$55,090

Source: www.mtsu.edu · checked Sep 28, 2026

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$9,289

$30–48k

$10,273

$48–75k

$13,007

$75–110k

$16,935

$110k+

$19,046

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2025-26

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$9,799

Share of first-years who get one25%

Source: Middle Tennessee State University's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

54%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

36%

Back for yr 2

80%

Transferred

20%

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

55% graduated · 20% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 24% left or unknown

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$39,941

10 yrs after entry$48,541

Debt

Median at graduation$20,000

Monthly payment$212

Middle 50% owe$5.5k–$26.5k

90th percentile$37,500

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

69%

Test policy

Required

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1121

R 520–630 · M 490–600

ACT midpoint

Comp 20–26 · E 19–26 · M 17–25

SAT middle 50%: 1010–1230

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

How much essays count at Middle Tennessee State University: Considered (one of four levels: very important · important · considered · not considered)

Source: Middle Tennessee State University's Common Data Set for 2025-26 — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

If Middle Tennessee State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the school's application.

Student Body

Gender

Men 48%Women 52%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

17 : 1

Pell grant

32%

First-gen

36%

Family income

$35,325

Independent

23%

Veterans

Age at entry

22.0

Part-time

13%

Race & ethnicity

White

63%

Hispanic

11%

Black

14%

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division I-FBS · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Soccer
Women's
Softball
Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$39,941

After 10 yrs

$48,541

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other293

Business Administration, Management and Operations271

Psychology, General242

Air Transportation212

Music155

Criminal Justice and Corrections126

Biology, General125

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness118

Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management112

Film/Video and Photographic Arts105

Marketing100

Communication and Media Studies93

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods88

Fine and Studio Arts87

Journalism86

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities86

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$154M

Full-time faculty

81%

Faculty salary

$9,739/mo

Teaching spend

$12,353

per student

Federal loans

28%

Classification

Carnegie type

Doctoral University

Research activity

R2 — high research

$14M research spending · 80 research doctorates a year

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, selective admissions