After Tennessee State University: graduation, pay and debt
Nashville, Tennessee · Public · 4,848 undergrads · HBCU
33% of Tennessee State University students finish within six years, the typical student earns $47,151 ten years after starting and graduates leave with $24,250 in federal loans at the median.
The short answers
$47.2k
median pay 10 years after starting college.
33%
finish within six years.
19%
finish in four years.
34%
of first-years come back for year two.
$24.3k
median federal debt at graduation.
31%
of borrowers were paying down their loans three years after leaving.
All the federal numbers
Finishing
Finished in four yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
19%
Finished within six yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
33%
First-years who came back for year twoCollege Scorecard, fall 2024
34%
Men who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
27%
Women who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
36%
Students in that six-year groupIPEDS, students who started in 2017
1,529
Earned a degree or certificate here within eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
33%
Still enrolled here after eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
34%
Students in that eight-year groupIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
1,483
Transferred to another collegeCollege Scorecard, earlier release
35%
Pay after college
Median pay 6 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard
$40,172
Median pay 10 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard, 2022-23
$47,151
Earning more than $25,000 six years after startingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
56%
Debt and paying it back
Median federal debt, students who graduatedCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
$24,250
Median federal debt, everyone who borrowed (finished or not)College Scorecard, earlier release
$17,500
Median federal debt, students with a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$18,750
Median federal debt, students without a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$13,000
Paying down their loans 3 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
31%
Paying down their loans 5 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
37%
Paying down their loans 7 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
44%
Where these numbers come from
- Admit rate and applicants: IPEDS, fall 2024 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Cost, pay and debt: College Scorecard, 2024-25 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
Updated Oct 31, 2026Spot a mistake?How we get our numbers