Fisk University
- Graduation Rate
- 35% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $45,454 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $32,020 F
- 87% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 37% A
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A D+ overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 10.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $10.7 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $10.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,247,363.
What The Data Says
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A D+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 35% — 39% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $10.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Fisk University Matters
Fisk University is a private liberal arts college in Nashville, TN and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 1,035
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HBCU
- Primary Strengths
- Biology & Biomedical, Computer Science & IT, Psychology, Social Sciences
Why students choose Fisk University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 37% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1140–1510. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $32,020 a year after grants and scholarships — 87% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $45,454 ten years after enrolling — 11% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.45 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of just over 1,000 students, Fisk University in Nashville, TN, is an excellent fit for those seeking a tight-knit community and personalized education. The school stands out for its focus on programs like Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Computer Science, Psychology, and Business. If you're looking for a place where you can dive into these fields and get to know your professors, Fisk might be the right choice.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $45,454 within ten years, which gives a solid sense of the potential return on investment. While the graduation rate sits at 35%, the experience and education here can open doors for many, especially for those who take advantage of the programs offered. With 52% of students receiving Pell Grants, Fisk aims to make college more accessible, giving a boost to those who might need it most.
When we look at the practical side, the net price after financial aid hovers around $32,020, and the median debt for graduates is about $27,000. This means that while the cost of attendance is significant, it’s manageable compared to potential earnings down the line. Students who thrive here often appreciate the close community and the opportunity to engage deeply in their studies, making the investment in their education worthwhile.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Fisk University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Fisk University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Nashville, Tennessee, Fisk University reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 37%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,200. The graduation rate is roughly 35%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 37%
- Retention Rate
- 74%
- SAT Average
- 1200
- ACT Midpoint
- 23
- SAT Range
- 1140–1510
- ACT Range
- 19–24
- Full-Time Faculty
- 52%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,116
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.37
- First-Gen Students
- 27%
- Applicants
- 7,268
- Admitted
- 5,158
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Fisk University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Fisk University is $25,858, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $32,020. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $27,647 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $25,858
- Out-of-State
- $25,858
- Avg Net Price
- $32,020
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 52%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 53%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $27,647
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $32,474
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $34,204
- Family Income $110K+
- $26,678
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Fisk University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Fisk University earn a median of $45,454, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,604
- 8 Years
- $32,162
- 10 Years
- $45,454
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.59x
- Earning > $25K
- 54%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (79)
- 40%
- 100% (79)
- 40%
- 100% (79)
- 40%
- 100% (79)
- 40%
How Fisk Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Fisk University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Fisk University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $32,020/year ($128,080 total). Graduates earn $45,454 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,375,443 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,247,363 (10.7× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 35% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $128,080
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,375,443
- Net Return
- $1,247,363
- ROI Multiple
- 10.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $32,020
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 35%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-3,421,494
Top Programs
The fields Fisk University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Biology & Biomedical 35%
- Computer Science & IT 17%
- Psychology 12%
- Social Sciences 10%
- Business & Marketing 8%
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
- Humanities 4%
- Mathematics & Statistics 4%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Fisk University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Fisk University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Nashville, Tennessee, Fisk University reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 37%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,200. The graduation rate is roughly 35%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Fisk University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Fisk University is $25,858, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $32,020. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $27,647 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Fisk University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Fisk University earn a median of $45,454, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Fisk University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Fisk University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.45, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.07), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Fisk University.
- Huston-Tillotson UniversityAustin, TX · Close peer35% grad $42,937 earn 39% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Oakwood UniversityHuntsville, AL · Close peer47% grad $42,488 earn 45% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Thomas UniversityThomasville, GA · Close peer28% grad $49,716 earn 38% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Anna Maria CollegePaxton, MA · Close peer44% grad $46,651 earn 50% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Johnson C Smith UniversityCharlotte, NC · Close peer34% grad $42,680 earn 45% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Warner UniversityLake Wales, FL · Close peer38% grad $46,086 earn 43% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Fisk University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Fisk University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.45, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.07), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note