Tennessee State vs North Carolina Central University (NCCU)
Tennessee State University and North Carolina Central University, both historically Black universities with rich legacies, offer distinct educational experiences. Tennessee State, located in Nashville, Tennessee, boasts a higher acceptance rate (58%) compared to North Carolina Central's (49%) in Durham, North Carolina. While Tennessee State's student body is predominantly African American (84%), North Carolina Central's is more diverse, with a significant African American population (73%) alongside other ethnicities. Both universities offer a range of popular majors, including nursing, business, and education, but Tennessee State excels in engineering and technology programs, while North Carolina Central is known for its strong liberal arts and sciences curriculum. With Tennessee State's higher graduation rate (48%) compared to North Carolina Central's (42%), prospective students can explore the detailed comparison table to discover which university better aligns with their academic goals and preferences.
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![]() North Carolina Central University |
![]() Tennessee State University |
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Overview |
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Location | Durham, North Carolina | Nashville, Tennessee |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 74.0% | 53.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 76.0% | Open Admission |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
|
Undergraduate:
$25
Graduate:
$25
|
SAT range | 930 - 1150 | N/A |
ACT range | 16 - 20 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 2.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 2.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 8,244 | |
Total number of admissions given out | 6,267 | |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,130 | |
Yield rate | 18.0% | |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | |
High school GPA | Required | N/A |
Recommendation letters | Not required | N/A |
High school transcript | Not required | N/A |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | N/A |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$25,493
Out of state:
$38,200
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In state:
$29,346
Out of state:
$42,702
|
Average net price | $14,496 | $11,880 |
Tuition |
In state:
$3,728
Out of state:
$16,435
|
In state:
$7,128
Out of state:
$20,484
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,556
Meal plan:
$4,484
|
Room/dormitory:
$3,958
Meal plan:
$4,208
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
96.0%
Average amount $12,296 |
70.0%
Average amount $11,763 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
67.0%
Average amount $6,211 |
44.0%
Average amount $5,525 |
Students taking out private loans |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
2.0%
Average amount $16,866 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
5,892
Men 29.5% Women 70.5% |
6,375
Men 36.4% Women 63.6% |
Graduate students |
2,061
Men 25.8% Women 74.2% |
1,702
Men 30.7% Women 69.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 24.3% | 60.5% |
International students | 0.4% | 6.2% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 3,329 | 2,960 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | North Carolina Maryland South Carolina District of Columbia Virginia | Tennessee Georgia Illinois Alabama Ohio |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 15:1 | 14:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 50.8% | 30.3% |
Dropout rate | 24.2% | 34.7% |
Transferred out | 22.6% | 32.1% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees)
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
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