Tennessee Wesleyan University
#3 Best Nursing Colleges in Tennessee- Graduation Rate
- 46% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $45,989 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $14,836 C+
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 69% B-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 15.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.5 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Nursing Colleges in Tennessee.
Every $1 spent returns $15.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $860,477.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 46% — 20% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $15.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Tennessee Wesleyan University Matters
Tennessee Wesleyan University is a private college in Athens, 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 College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 846
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- 71
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Education
Why students choose Tennessee Wesleyan 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
Competitive — admits about 69% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $14,836 a year after grants and scholarships — 13% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $45,989 ten years after enrolling — 13% above the typical college, against $20,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 77% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.46 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of 846 students, Tennessee Wesleyan University is a solid choice for those pursuing degrees in Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, Criminal Justice, or Psychology. The 69% acceptance rate suggests an inclusive environment where students can find their niche. This school fits well for individuals looking for a close-knit community and personal attention in their educational journey.
After graduation, students can expect a median earning of $45,989 within ten years, which can set a positive tone for their career paths. While the graduation rate sits at 46%, it’s important to recognize that many students find their footing after some time. The affordability of the programs, coupled with a significant portion of students receiving Pell Grants (39%), indicates a commitment to making education accessible, even for those from lower-income backgrounds.
The practical side of attending Tennessee Wesleyan includes a net price of $14,836 after aid, which positions it as a reasonable option for many. With a median debt load of $20,000, graduates leave with a manageable amount of student loans. This balance makes it an appealing choice for students who are motivated and looking to thrive in a supportive environment.
Rankings
- #3 Best Nursing Colleges in Tennessee
- #4 Best Psychology Colleges in Tennessee
- #5 Best Education Colleges in Tennessee
- #5 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Tennessee
- #6 Best Business Colleges in Tennessee
- #8 Best Online Colleges in Tennessee
- #9 Best Bachelor's Programs in Tennessee
- #9 Best Master's Programs in Tennessee
Can I Get In?
How selective Tennessee Wesleyan 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 Tennessee Wesleyan University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Athens, Tennessee, Tennessee Wesleyan University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 69% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,090. The graduation rate is roughly 46%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 69%
- Retention Rate
- 72%
- SAT Average
- 1090
- ACT Midpoint
- 21
- ACT Range
- 19–23
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,870
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 10:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.44
- First-Gen Students
- 41%
- Applicants
- 968
- Admitted
- 588
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 Tennessee Wesleyan University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Tennessee Wesleyan University is $30,814, 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 $14,836. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,609 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $30,814
- Out-of-State
- $30,814
- Avg Net Price
- $14,836
- Median Debt
- $20,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 39%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 52%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $11,609
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,088
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,647
- Family Income $110K+
- $18,980
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Tennessee Wesleyan University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Tennessee Wesleyan University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Tennessee Wesleyan University earn a median of $45,989, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $45,987
- 8 Years
- $46,048
- 10 Years
- $45,989
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.43x
- Earning > $25K
- 65%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (63)
- 33%
- 100% (63)
- 33%
- 100% (63)
- 33%
- 100% (63)
- 33%
Where Grads Go
Top employers of Tennessee Wesleyan University’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.
How Tennessee Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Tennessee Wesleyan University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Tennessee Wesleyan University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,836/year ($59,344 total). Graduates earn $45,989 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $919,821 in total earnings — a net gain of $860,477 (15.5× your investment). The median debt is $20,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 46% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $59,344
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $919,821
- Net Return
- $860,477
- ROI Multiple
- 15.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $14,836
- Median Debt
- $20,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 46%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Tennessee Wesleyan University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Tennessee Wesleyan University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.99%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 14.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $71,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.99%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 7.0%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 14.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $97,551
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $3,880,291
- Investment Income
- $-943,509
Top Programs
The fields Tennessee Wesleyan University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 44% $59,886 early-career
- Business & Marketing 22% $46,350 early-career
- Psychology 8%
- Education 5% $44,210 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 4%
- Criminal Justice 4% $36,132 early-career
- Mathematics & Statistics 1%
- Social Sciences 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Tennessee Wesleyan 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
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Tennessee Wesleyan University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Athens, Tennessee, Tennessee Wesleyan University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 69% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,090. The graduation rate is roughly 46%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Tennessee Wesleyan University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Tennessee Wesleyan University is $30,814, 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 $14,836. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,609 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,000 in federal student loans.
Is Tennessee Wesleyan University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Tennessee Wesleyan University earn a median of $45,989, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Tennessee Wesleyan University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Tennessee Wesleyan University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.99%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 14.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $71,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Tennessee Wesleyan 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 Tennessee Wesleyan University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.46, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.06), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Tennessee Wesleyan University.
- Kentucky Wesleyan CollegeOwensboro, KY · Close peer49% grad $46,747 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of the OzarksClarksville, AR · Close peer52% grad $44,384 earn 60% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Greensboro CollegeGreensboro, NC · Close peer43% grad $46,566 earn 70% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Montreat CollegeMontreat, NC · Close peer45% grad $45,151 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Milligan UniversityMilligan, TN · Close peer62% grad $46,641 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Graceland University-LamoniLamoni, IA · Close peer40% grad $47,361 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Tennessee Wesleyan 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 Tennessee Wesleyan University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.46, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.06), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note