and Applied Engineering buildings to 750 acres of agricultural labs just minutes from campus, MTSU has it all. The uni- versity offers aggressive guaranteed aca- demic scholarships for first-time freshmen and incoming transfer students (mtsu.edu/scholarships). Devoted to Student Success With around 20,000 students, MTSU prides itself on its small-town feel. “It sounds really cliché, but MTSU really is a large school that provides a small school atmosphere,” explained University Registrar Tyler Henson. “We pride our- selves in providing as much personal atten- tion to students as possible, so they don’t feel like a number or get lost in the crowd.” In its continued dedication to student suc- cess, the university has developed a range of integrated initiatives that ensure every student who comes to MTSU with the drive to succeed will be met with the best instruction from professors, and services from dedicated administrators who care about their success. For example, MT One Stop is a one- stop shop where students can get help with en- rollment, registration, financial aid, tutor- ing, billing, transcripts, and more. Located on the second floor of the Student Serv- ices and Admissions Center, students and potential students can schedule an in-per- son appointment or meet with an enroll- ment coordinator virtually. MTSU also offers things like free tutoring, a student food pantry, counseling services, and more. “Students have enough to worry about on a daily basis, so anywhere we can cut down on their time and stress, we like to do so. That’s why free tutoring and coun- seling are important resources to have on campus. The food pantry is another exam- ple of a service we offer to help cut down on stress for students ... a way for us to re- move one more worry,” Henson said. Academic Excellence and Affordability In 2025, for a seventh consecutive year, MTSU was named one of the top univer- sities in the United States by The Prince- ton Review and remains the only locally governed institution in Tennessee recog- nized by the publication. “We are pleased that The Princeton Review continues to acknowledge the sustained ex- cellence of our university, as well as the ex- ceptional work by our faculty and staff in serving our students,” MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee said of the honor. When interviewed by The Princeton Re- view, students noted things like: I MTSU takes the time to “foster an environ- ment of care for each and every student.” I The campus is big, but “feels like a com- fortable and home-like school” where peo- ple “sit on the quad by the library and talk with friends, play music, and skateboard.” I “At a school as large as MTSU, you see all types (of students) from different ends of the spectrum,” and everyone “is very open to whoever comes into the school.” I Another student noted the university’s friend- liness. “No matter who they are,” people at MTSU are “extremely friendly and inclusive.” As one of the most affordable universities across the state of Tennessee, MTSU’s tu- ition is just under $11,000 per year for full- time, in-state students. About 80% of MTSU’s students receive financial aid, 58% of our undergraduates finish their degrees debt-free, and one in six graduates in the greater Nashville area are MTSU alums, making the university the top provider to the region’s workforce with more than 70,000 alumni living in the region. “MTSU offers a fantastic opportunity for people in Middle Tennessee to get a world- class education in their own backyard. Keeping tuition affordable is key to that opportunity and important to the local economy because so many of our students end up staying right here in the area once they graduate. We have students who come from all over the world to take part in our signature programs, but serving the Middle Tennessee area is a core component of the university. It’s important to make sure get- ting an education at MTSU is accessible to those who live here,” Henson said. If you’re interested in learning more about MTSU, you can schedule a visit online at mtsu.edu/visit or speak to someone in MT One Stop by calling 615-898-2111, or vis- iting mtsu.edu/one-stop. Applications are currently being accepted. Tennessee College Guide | 2026 63 Four Year Institutions MTSU has increased the amounts of academic scholarships and expanded the eligibility criteria allowing more students to attend at a reduced cost.
