Texas Southern University vs Tennessee State University

Texas Southern University and Tennessee State University are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: Tennessee State University is more selective with a 92.6% acceptance rate compared to Texas Southern University's 93.3%. Average SAT scores are 913 and 1017 respectively.

Cost: Tennessee State University offers a lower average net price at $10,026, which is $9,708 less than Texas Southern University ($19,734). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Tennessee State University earn a median salary of $42,730 ten years after enrollment, which is $3,806 more than Texas Southern University graduates ($38,924).

Graduation: Tennessee State University leads with a 32.7% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 57.0% vs 60.2%.

Campus Size: Texas Southern University is the larger campus with 6,619 total students, while Tennessee State University has 6,498.

Bottom Line: Tennessee State University stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.