Tennessee State University Scholarships (2025–2026)
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- Tuition, housing, and what families actually pay on average
- Merit scholarship tiers and typical qualifiers
- Competitive & special-interest awards worth exploring
- Test policy (no superscore) and key deadlines
📊 Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: ~92% (Fall 2023)
- Middle 50% ACT: 16–21
- Middle 50% SAT (Composite): 890–1080
- Average HS GPA (enrolled): ~3.27
Source: TSU Common Data Set (most recent available). Middle 50% = range where half of enrolled first-years fall.
Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →
Tennessee State at a Glance
Intro FAQs
Does TSU award automatic scholarships?
TSU offers criteria-based merit scholarships for first-time freshmen (Presidential, Trustee, Academic Merit, Big Blue). Meeting the GPA/test criteria makes you eligible for consideration, but awards are competitive and funding-limited rather than guaranteed.
What do top awards cover?
The Presidential and Trustee levels can include tuition, fees, housing, and an unlimited meal plan. Renewal requires maintaining GPA and completing 30 credit hours per year.
What about test policy and superscoring?
TSU is not test-optional for freshmen under 21 and does not accept ACT/SAT superscores. Minimums: GPA 2.5 and ACT 19 / SAT 990 for consideration.
When are scholarship decisions released?
Merit notifications typically begin December 1 and continue in rounds while funds remain available. University scholarship applications generally open October 1 for the next year.
What’s the average net price?
The latest U.S. Department of Education data list TSU’s average net price at $9,231 (most recent College Scorecard year). Actual costs vary by family income and housing choice.
Admissions – Freshmen criteria & test policy – https://www.tnstate.edu/admissions/freshmen.aspx
Institutional Merit Scholarships (tiers & criteria) – https://www.tnstate.edu/oims/scholarships.aspx
Merit notifications begin Dec 1 – https://www.tnstate.edu/oims/
Financial Aid – Apply – https://www.tnstate.edu/financial_aid/apply.aspx
University scholarships open Oct 1 – https://www.tnstate.edu/financial_aid/scholarships.aspx
FAFSA priority date (CDS 2024–25) – https://www.tnstate.edu/ir/Financial%20Aid24-25.pdf
Fall admission deadline – https://www.tnstate.edu/admissions/forms.aspx
Honors College & honors housing – https://www.tnstate.edu/honors/
Academic Common Market (participation examples) – https://www.tnstate.edu/ait/tuition.aspx
Common Data Set 2023–24 – First-Year Admission – https://www.tnstate.edu/ir/First-Time%20First-Year%20Admission.pdf
College Scorecard (Average Net Price) – https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?221838-Tennessee-State-University
Tuition/Fees & 2025–26 calculator – https://www.tnstate.edu/bursar/fees.aspx ; https://www.tnstate.edu/financial_aid/tuition_calculator.aspx
💰 Cost of Attendance at Tennessee State University
| Expense | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Mandatory Fees (annual) | $8,568 | $22,284 |
| Housing & Meals (on-campus average) | $9,056 | $9,056 |
| Total (before aid) | $17,624 | $31,340 |
Note: These totals include only direct university charges (tuition, mandatory fees, housing, and meal plan). Other estimated costs—such as books, transportation, and personal expenses—are not shown here because they are not paid directly to the university and can vary by student.
Example: An out-of-state student in an approved ACM major pays about $9,048 instead of $22,848 — saving nearly $13,800 per year.
COA FAQ
Who qualifies for in-state rates? Tennessee residents who meet residency rules set by the state and university.
How much do students really pay? The average family paid about $9,200 after scholarships and grants, but costs vary based on income and aid.
Is the Academic Common Market automatic? No. You must apply through your home state’s ACM office and be certified for an eligible major.
TSU Tuition & Fees schedule – https://www.tnstate.edu/bursar/fees.aspx
TSU Institutional Merit Scholarships (tiers & criteria) – https://www.tnstate.edu/oims/scholarships.aspx
TSU Net Price Calculator – https://www.tnstate.edu/finaid_calculator/npcalc.htm
BigFuture – Tennessee State University Tuition & Costs (Average Net Price $9,231) – https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/tennessee-state-university/tuition-and-costs
Niche – Tennessee State University Cost & Tuition (Net Price $9,231) – https://www.niche.com/colleges/tennessee-state-university/cost/
CollegeFactual – Tennessee State University Average Net Price (2020 data) – https://www.collegefactual.com/colleges/tennessee-state-university/paying-for-college/net-price/
✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships
TSU’s Office of Institutional Merit Scholarships (OIMS) publishes clear, admission-based tiers for first-time freshmen. Awards are offered as funds allow and require full-time enrollment. Award amounts are set dollar figures but may be adjusted each year based on state/fiscal conditions.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presidential Merit | In-state: $18,630/yr Out-of-state: $28,430/yr (up to 8 semesters) |
Weighted GPA ≥3.5 ACT 28–36 or SAT 1300–1600+ |
No | Yes — FAFSA required; maintain ≥3.5 GPA, 15 credits/term | Top academic profile (~3.6–4.0 GPA, strong rigor/service) | Rolling with priority by March 1 |
| Trustee Merit | In-state: $15,630/yr Out-of-state: $25,430/yr |
Weighted GPA ≥3.3 ACT 26–27 or SAT 1230–1290 |
No | Yes — FAFSA required; maintain ≥3.3 GPA, 15 credits/term | Strong academics (A-/B+, upper 20s ACT) | Rolling by funds |
| Academic Merit | In-state: $12,630/yr Out-of-state: $22,430/yr |
Weighted GPA ≥3.3 ACT 24–25 or SAT 1160–1220 |
No | Yes — FAFSA, ≥3.3 GPA, 15 credits/term | Upper B+/A- students, solid test scores | Until funds exhausted |
| Big Blue Merit | In-state: $9,630/yr Out-of-state: $19,430/yr |
Weighted GPA ≥3.0 ACT 19–23 or SAT 990–1150 |
No | Yes — FAFSA, ≥3.0, 15 credits/term | Wide band: 3.0–3.2 GPA with mid/low 20s ACT | Until funds exhausted |
Notes: TSU uses your highest single ACT/SAT composite score (not superscoring). FAFSA required each year; must remain full-time (15 credits/semester) and meet GPA benchmarks to renew. Scholarships cannot be stacked.
FAQ — Automatic Merit at TSU
Do I need a separate application? No. Apply for admission and submit required documents; merit review is automatic as funds allow.
Are test scores required? Yes. ACT or SAT is required for first-time freshman merit scholarships and admission.
When are awards made? Starting December, rolling notifications until funds are depleted. Apply early for priority.
What about renewal? Annual FAFSA, 15 credits/term, and required GPA. See award letter for your tier’s specifics.
https://www.tnstate.edu/oims/scholarships.aspx
https://www.tnstate.edu/oims/FAQs.aspx
https://www.tnstate.edu/admissions/freshmen.aspx
https://www.tnstate.edu/oims/
https://catalog.tnstate.edu/
🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive)
These are Tennessee State University’s most competitive, flagship-level scholarships. Unlike the automatic merit grid, flagship awards require extra essays, applications, and are reserved for top applicants in specialized fields. The primary current program is the HCA/TSU Scholars Program—funded through a partnership with HCA and delivered by TSU’s College of Health Sciences.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HCA/TSU Scholars Program | Covers on-campus tuition & fees, housing/dining, books/supplies, laptop; package value up to $18,000/year | First-year students in Health Care Administration, Health Information Technology, Public Health, or Health Science; GPA 3.25+, ACT 23+ or SAT 1130+; leadership/service; U.S. citizen; 1,000-word essay | Yes — application and essay required; limited to five new scholars/year | Yes — up to 4 years, maintain progress in approved major and all program participation requirements | Top health-major freshmen with strong academics, leadership, and a compelling essay | See TSU/College of Health Sciences for annual deadline (~March 1 priority) |
Note: The HCA/TSU Scholars Program is open to U.S. citizens entering select health-related majors at TSU. Awards are highly competitive; only five freshmen are selected annually. The value can fully cover in-state cost of attendance if combined with HOPE.
FAQ — Flagship Scholarships at TSU
What counts as flagship? TSU’s “flagship” scholarships are high-value, competitive awards outside the main merit grid—requiring essays and extra reviews.
How competitive are they? The HCA/TSU program typically selects just five students per year—applicants must have the highest academics, leadership, and dedication to health careers.
Can flagship awards stack? Flagship awards typically stack with outside, state, and federal aid up to Cost of Attendance. Families should confirm in their aid letter.
Are other competitive scholarships available? Most are managed through the Honors College, academic departments, or the TSU Foundation’s portal, and require separate applications.
https://www.tnstate.edu/healthsciences/hca-scholars.aspx
https://tnstate.academicworks.com/
https://www.tnstate.edu/oims/scholarships.aspx
https://www.tnstate.edu/admissions/freshmen.aspx
🎖️ Honors College
The Honors College at Tennessee State University offers top-performing students a smaller, close-knit academic and social community on a large HBCU campus. Admission is selective, with clear academic requirements and dedicated resources for research, leadership, and preparation for national fellowships.
TSU’s Honors College does not award its own separate scholarships. Instead, Honors students are typically strong contenders for the university’s highest automatic merit scholarships (such as Presidential or Trustee awards) and gain special access to research and enrichment funding, conference travel, and elite graduate fellowship prep.
• High school GPA of 3.4+
• ACT 25+ or SAT 1220+
• Strong academic rigor, service, or leadership
(transfer/current students: 3.4+ GPA minimum required)
- Priority course registration each semester
- Options for designated Honors housing (Hale Hall)
- Small, seminar-style honors courses and thesis/project options
- Faculty mentoring plus support for research and creative work
- Travel funding for research and conference presentation
- Coaching for premier graduate and leadership fellowships (e.g., Truman, Marshall, Fulbright, Rhodes)
- Student council, networking, and professional/community service activities
Honors College FAQ
Is admission automatic? No—students must apply separately after TSU admission, providing transcripts, test scores, and an essay or statement. The minimum GPA is 3.4, plus ACT 25 or SAT 1220 for freshmen; transfer/other students must have a 3.4+ college GPA.
Are there direct scholarships? Not from the Honors College itself. However, Honors students consistently win TSU’s top automatic and competitive awards and gain unique funding for research, conference travel, and elite grad prep.
Does Honors add time to graduation? No—honors courses substitute for standard core requirements, so most students finish in four years if they stay on track.
When should I apply? Applications are accepted year-round, but priority review is spring/early summer for incoming freshmen. Admitted students may join up to junior year if requirements are met. See the Honors site or contact the program for current deadlines.
https://www.tnstate.edu/honors/
https://catalog.tnstate.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=5&poid=399
https://www.tnstate.edu/honors/requirements.aspx
https://www.tnstate.edu/honors/application.aspx
https://www.tnstate.edu/honors/about.aspx
https://www.tnstate.edu/honors/faq.aspx
⭐ College Specialty
Tennessee State University stands out as a public HBCU with a strong research profile (classified as an R2: High Research Activity university). Families often hear about its famous marching band and proud land-grant tradition, but TSU also has academic programs that consistently earn recognition statewide and nationally. These specialties can open doors for internships, graduate study, and careers in high-demand fields.
🎵 Music & Performing Arts (Aristocrat of Bands) — TSU’s marching band is the first collegiate marching band to ever win a GRAMMY Award (2023). This distinction put the program on the national stage and showcases the strength of TSU’s music program overall.
- Agriculture & Extension (Land-Grant Strength): TSU is one of only two land-grant universities in Tennessee, operating multiple research and education centers across the state. It is federally recognized among the 1890 land-grant HBCUs, with Centers of Excellence in food security, renewable energy, and natural resources.
- Engineering & Technology: ABET-accredited programs with strong ties to industry partners in Nashville and beyond. The College of Engineering collaborates with organizations such as the Tennessee Road Builders Association and ASHRAE, helping students land internships and competitive scholarships.
- Health Sciences & Nursing: TSU’s College of Health Sciences has been noted statewide for producing nurses, public health leaders, and allied health professionals, with clinical partnerships across Middle Tennessee.
- Business: TSU’s College of Business is AACSB-accredited (a distinction earned by less than 6% of business schools worldwide) and offers specialty programs like Supply Chain Management and Accounting that place graduates into strong career pipelines.
📎 Official Links
- Tennessee State University — Homepage
- University Honors College
- Institutional Merit Scholarships (OIMS)
- Financial Aid & Scholarships
Final Thoughts
Navigating scholarships at Tennessee State can feel overwhelming at first glance — but once you break it down, the picture gets clearer. Automatic merit sets the baseline, the state’s HOPE program adds a reliable boost, and gems like ROTC or departmental awards can round out the package. For high achievers, the Honors College and flagship HCA/TSU Scholars Program open doors to unique opportunities. The result? With some planning, families can often bring the net cost down much lower than the published sticker price.