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Trevecca Nazarene University

#2 Best Business Colleges in Tennessee
Private nonprofit Nashville, TN · Urban · Southeast · 100% data
B Diversity B- Earnings B- Selectivity
Graduation Rate
54% C
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$49,378 B-
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$16,813 C
Close to the national average
Acceptance Rate
69% B-
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +21% vs avg
Graduation -5% vs avg
Net Price +-2% vs avg
Mobility Top 98%

Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 15.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.8 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Business Colleges in Tennessee.

15.8× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $15.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $998,506.

What The Data Says

  1. A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Earnings 21% above the national college median.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $15.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Trevecca Nazarene University Matters

Trevecca Nazarene University is a private doctoral / professional university 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 Doctoral / Professional University
Carnegie Class
Doctoral/Professional
Enrollment
1,737
Setting
Urban
Designations
59
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Psychology, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT

Why students choose Trevecca Nazarene University

Strong STEM core
A heavy concentration in technical fields
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Strength in Business & Marketing
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 50% overall
B-
Earnings
$49,378 median
C+
Value
2.9× net price
C
Affordability
$16,813/yr net
C
Graduation
54% graduate
F
Social Mobility
0.4% climb Q1→Q5
B-
Selectivity
69% admit rate
B
Diversity
0.67 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Trevecca Nazarene University is an appealing choice for students looking for a close-knit community with a focus on practical skills and personal development. With around 1,737 students enrolled and a 69% acceptance rate, it's a welcoming place for those interested in fields like Business and Marketing, Psychology, Health Professions, Computer Science and IT, or Visual and Performing Arts. The emphasis on these programs reflects a commitment to preparing students for real-world challenges.

Graduates from Trevecca can expect a median earning of $49,378 a decade after finishing their degrees. This figure gives us a sense of the potential return on investment for students who choose to study here. While the graduation rate is 54%, it's essential to consider that the university's affordable net price of $16,813 helps make education accessible. The 32% of students receiving Pell Grants indicates a commitment to supporting those from lower-income backgrounds.

When it comes to the financial side, students graduate with a median debt of about $18,744, which is manageable for many. The environment at Trevecca tends to favor those who thrive in smaller settings and value a supportive atmosphere. If you’re looking for a place that balances academic rigor with personal growth, this could be a strong fit.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Trevecca Nazarene University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Trevecca Nazarene University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Trevecca Nazarene 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 1,091. The graduation rate is roughly 54%.

Acceptance Rate
69%
Retention Rate
74%
SAT Average
1091
SAT Range
980–1235
ACT Range
18–24
Full-Time Faculty
94%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$7,392
Student–Faculty Ratio
22:1
Diversity Index
0.67
First-Gen Students
39%
Applicants
1,658
Admitted
1,175

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 Trevecca Nazarene University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Trevecca Nazarene University is $31,300, 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 $16,813. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,532 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,744 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$31,300
Out-of-State
$31,300
Avg Net Price
$16,813
Median Debt
$18,744
Pell Grant Rate
32%
Federal Loan Rate
39%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$14,532
Family Income $30K–$48K
$13,643
Family Income $48K–$75K
$15,420
Family Income $110K+
$20,725

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Trevecca Nazarene University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Trevecca Nazarene University earn a median of $49,378, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$46,065
8 Years
$48,367
10 Years
$49,378
Debt-to-Earnings
0.38x
Earning > $25K
69%

Earnings Trajectory

$46,065 6yr $48,367 8yr $49,378 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (147)
49%
100% (147)
49%
100% (147)
49%
100% (147)
49%

How Trevecca Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation54%Earnings 10yr$49KNet Price$17KRetention74%Median Debt$19KPell Grant Rate32%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$15K$0-30K$14K$30-48K$15K$48-75K$21K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%5.3%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%8.0%MOBILITY0.42%

College ROI Calculator

Is Trevecca Nazarene University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Trevecca Nazarene University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $16,813/year ($67,252 total). Graduates earn $49,378 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,065,758 in total earnings — a net gain of $998,506 (15.8× your investment). The median debt is $18,744, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 54% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$67,252
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,065,758
Net Return
$998,506
ROI Multiple
15.8×
Cost Per Year
$16,813
Median Debt
$18,744
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
54%

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 Trevecca Nazarene University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Trevecca Nazarene 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 0.42%, a more modest figure. About 5.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $79,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
0.42%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
8.0%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
5.3%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$79,400

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Trevecca Nazarene 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 Trevecca Nazarene University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.65, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), 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.

Economic Connectedness
1.65
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.03
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
8.4%
Support Ratio
1.00
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Investment Income
$-280,941

Top Programs

The fields Trevecca Nazarene 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Trevecca Nazarene University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Trevecca Nazarene 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 1,091. The graduation rate is roughly 54%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Trevecca Nazarene University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Trevecca Nazarene University is $31,300, 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 $16,813. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,532 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,744 in federal student loans.

Is Trevecca Nazarene University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Trevecca Nazarene University earn a median of $49,378, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does Trevecca Nazarene University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Trevecca Nazarene 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 0.42%, a more modest figure. About 5.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $79,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Trevecca Nazarene 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 Trevecca Nazarene University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.65, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), 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.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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