Tennessee State University: Student Population And Campus Life

Tennessee State University (Tennessee State, Tenn State, or TSU) is a public, historically black university in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1912, it has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,765 students as of Fall 2023. The university offers 41 bachelor's degrees, 23 master's degrees, and eight doctoral degrees. Tennessee State University is divided into eight schools and colleges and has a downtown campus located in the heart of Nashville's business and government district.

Tennessee State University's undergraduate enrollment

Tennessee State University (TSU) is a public, historically black university in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1912, it offers 41 bachelor's degree programs between nine schools, and over a quarter of students pursue degrees in health professions.

As of Fall 2023, Tennessee State University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,765 students. The university has seen steady growth since its inception and remains the only public university in Nashville. Its health science program is the largest in the state and one of the largest in the nation.

The university's main campus spans 500 acres with more than 65 buildings and is located in a residential setting at 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd in Nashville, Tennessee. The campus has the most acres of any college campus in Nashville. The university also has a downtown campus, the Avon Williams campus, located near the center of the Nashville business and government district.

Tennessee State University offers on-campus housing to students, including dormitories and two apartment complexes for upperclassmen. The campus has numerous facilities for students, including a wellness center, a 10,000-seat arena, an Olympic-size indoor pool, and the Brown/Daniel Library with over 420,000 books and numerous online databases.

The student-faculty ratio at Tennessee State University is 12 to 1, and the university offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, including more than 60 registered student organizations, five fraternities, four sororities, and various athletic teams.

The university's history and accreditation

Tennessee State University (Tennessee State, Tenn State, or TSU) is a public, historically black, land-grant university in Nashville, Tennessee. It was founded in 1912 and is the only state-funded historically black university in Tennessee. The university was established as the Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State Normal School for Negroes in 1912, with its dedication taking place on January 16, 1913. The first 247 students began their academic careers on June 19, 1912, under the leadership of William Jasper Hale.

The school gained the capacity to grant bachelor's degrees in 1922 and became a four-year teachers' college. By 1924, the college became known as the Agricultural and Industrial State Normal College, and the first degrees were awarded. In 1927, the word "Normal" was dropped from its name. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the college grew in scope and stature under the charge, "Enter to learn; go forth to serve."

In 1941, the Tennessee General Assembly directed the Board of Education to upgrade the educational program of the college. As a result, graduate studies leading to master's degrees were established, and the first master's degrees were awarded in June 1944. The college was fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1946.

The institution achieved full land-grant university status in 1958 under the name Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State University. The university status brought about a reorganization of the educational program, leading to the creation of the Graduate School, the School of Arts & Sciences, the School of Education, and the School of Engineering.

In 1968, the state legislature officially changed the name to Tennessee State University, dropping "Agricultural & Industrial." In 1979, the University of Tennessee at Nashville merged with TSU due to a court mandate, making TSU the only public university in Nashville.

Tennessee State University has undergone significant expansion and development over the years. It offers a wide range of academic programs, including bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. The university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award associate, baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees.

Tennessee State's research activity

Tennessee State University is a public institution that was founded in 1912. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,765 (as of fall 2023). The campus size is 500 acres, and it is located in Nashville, Tennessee. Tennessee State University is designated by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as a Doctoral Institution – High Research Activity. The university engages in cutting-edge research to address societal challenges, with a focus on areas such as agricultural sciences, engineering, biotechnology, nanomaterials, health sciences, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, astrophysics, business, and the social sciences.

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs plays a crucial role in enabling the research community at Tennessee State University. It provides support and development to help achieve research goals through external funding. The Division of Research and Sponsored Programs leads, supports, conducts, and promotes scholarly research and other sponsored projects. This is done by establishing multidisciplinary teams comprising faculty, staff, and students. These teams foster creativity, enhance educational experiences, and facilitate partnerships for the cooperative exchange of information and resources.

Tennessee State University's research facilities include state-of-the-art laboratories, core facilities, and buildings dedicated to specific areas of study. For instance, the College of Agriculture boasts over 52,000 sq. ft. of laboratory and office space, as well as the Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center and over 600 acres of field research space. The College of Engineering is equipped with critical technology infrastructure, including a Nano-Materials Laboratory, Cyber-Security Lab, Mobile Robots, and various specialized centers, institutes, and laboratories.

The College of Life and Physical Sciences occupies research facilities in Harned, McCord, and Boswell Halls, offering a tissue culture core laboratory, and a small animal care facility. The College of Health Sciences has three functioning clinics: the Dental Hygiene Clinic, the Speech Pathology Clinic, and the Tiger Rehab Clinic. It also boasts a new state-of-the-art building that consolidates allied health science programs and provides collaborative learning spaces, instructional areas, and administrative offices.

Tennessee State University's research endeavours have been recognized through significant research awards. In 2023, the university achieved a milestone by receiving over $100 million in research awards, solidifying its position among the nation's highest-awarded HBCUs. This funding contributes to the university's goal of attaining R1-research status.

The number of students living on campus

Tennessee State University is a public institution that was founded in 1912. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,765, with a gender distribution of 34.4% male students and 65.6% female students. The campus spans 500 acres in an urban setting.

Tennessee State University offers its students a variety of housing options. The university accommodates its students in campus housing, with 62% of students living in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing. This equates to approximately 4,194 students living on campus. The housing options available include apartments for single students and other housing options that are not specified.

The campus offers a range of amenities and facilities for students, including a cafeteria, cafés, a bookstore, athletic areas, a wellness centre, meeting rooms, study lounges, and a 10,000-seat arena. The student-faculty ratio is 12 to 1, ensuring that students have access to academic support and a well-rounded college experience.

With a significant portion of the student body choosing to live on campus, Tennessee State University fosters a sense of community and provides a convenient and engaging environment for its students to reside and study.

Tennessee State University's ranking

Tennessee State University is a public institution that was founded in 1912. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,765 (as of Fall 2023) and is located in Nashville, Tennessee. The campus size is 500 acres and the setting is urban. Tennessee State University is designated as a "high research" institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. It is also a historically black college with a strong history of and commitment to the education of black Americans.

In the 2025 edition of Best Colleges, Tennessee State University is ranked #392-434 out of 436 National Universities. It is ranked #29 in Historically Black Colleges and Universities, #210-225 in Top Public Schools, and #191-209 in Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs. The university is also ranked #200 in Top Performers on Social Mobility.

The university's rankings are based on its performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Some of the factors considered in the rankings include graduation rates, student retention rates, social mobility, expert opinions, peer assessments, faculty resources, student-faculty ratio, financial resources, and faculty research.

Tennessee State University offers a variety of academic programs and faculty, including more than 100 student clubs, organizations, club sports, and intramural teams. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

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