MTSU acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
Middle Tennessee State University · Public · Murfreesboro, TN · 17,668 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
MTSU admitted 68.0% of applicants for fall 2023, down from 70.0% in 2013. Tennessee residents pay $10,932 in tuition and fees for 2025-26; out-of-state students pay $33,428.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
Show as table
| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 70.0% | 9,845 | 6,888 |
| 2014 | 72.1% | 9,353 | 6,740 |
| 2015 | 72.6% | 8,164 | 5,927 |
| 2016 | 68.6% | 8,538 | 5,858 |
| 2017 | 59.3% | 9,938 | 5,898 |
| 2018 | 93.5% | 8,055 | 7,534 |
| 2019 | 93.7% | 8,973 | 8,409 |
| 2020 | 94.2% | 9,096 | 8,568 |
| 2021 | 68.4% | 11,244 | 7,691 |
| 2022 | 72.5% | 12,868 | 9,335 |
| 2023 | 68.0% | 14,763 | 10,039 |
Applications went from 9,845 in fall 2013 to 14,763 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
Show as table
| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $8,914 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $9,294 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $11,139 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $15,385 |
| Over $110,000 | $18,856 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $10,932 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $33,428 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $24,577 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $12,562 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid paying the in-state rate, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 7% submitted the SAT, 92% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar public colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| University of Tennessee TN | 46.0% | $13,812 in-state |
| University of Memphis TN | 93.4% | $11,256 in-state |
| Queens College NY | 68.5% | $7,538 in-state |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
MTSU counted 14,763 applications for fall 2023 and 10,039 admitted students, an admit rate of 68.0%, the same as the 68.0% state median of 37 colleges.1 The fall 2013 figure was 70.0%, so the rate is now 2.0 percentage points lower.1 The series has an odd stretch: it was 59.3% in 2017, then 93.5% in 2018 and 94.2% in 2020, and it declined in 4 of the 10 yearly changes.1 Applications grew 50% from 9,845 to 14,763, and admitted students rose from 6,888 to 10,039.1
MTSU requires test scores, and the ACT was submitted by 92% of enrolled students against 7% for the SAT.1 SAT submitters centered on 510 to 630 for reading and writing and 490 to 600 for math, and ACT composites centered on 19 to 26.1
Tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $10,932 for Tennessee residents and $33,428 for others, which leaves the resident price just below the $10,963 median of 10 public bachelor's colleges in the state.2 Families earning $0 to $30,000 paid an average net price of $8,914 in 2024-25, those earning $48,001 to $75,000 paid $11,139, and those over $110,000 paid $18,856.2
Of 2019 entrants, 54% graduated within 6 years, versus a 53% state median across 43 colleges, and retention was 80%.2 Median earnings reach $52,702 10 years after entry, with a median federal debt of $18,057.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 14,763 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 10,039 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 3,126 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 17,668 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test required | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 510 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 630 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 490 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 600 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 19 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 26 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 7% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 92% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $10,932 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $33,428 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_OUT, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $24,577 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $12,562 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $8,914 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $9,294 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $11,139 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $15,385 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $18,856 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 54% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 80% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 37% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $52,702 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $18,057 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median admit rate, Tennessee (N = 37) | 68.0% | IPEDS ADM2023, median ADMSSN/APPLCN, bachelor's institutions, fall 20231 |
| Median in-state tuition and fees, public colleges, Tennessee (N = 10) | $10,963 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, public bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, Tennessee (N = 43) | 53% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with MTSU, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page