First-time Students

Admission Guidelines

ACT and SAT Scores Waived for Fall 2020 Incoming Freshmen

Tennessee State University is temporarily waiving the ACT and SAT scores as requirements for incoming freshmen for Fall 2020. The modified admission requirement is a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, students will still be required to have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, completed application, and official high school transcript submitted for admission, which should indicate strong academic achievement in core coursework. 

See details below. 

Admission Guidelines

To be considered for freshman admission, students must submit the following:

• Complete undergraduate online application for admission
• Official high school transcript or results from the General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
• Results of the SAT or ACT examinations are not required for Fall 2020 admissions

 

Test Optional Fall 2020

Tennessee State University will be test optional for Fall 2020, meaning students may choose to submit test scores if they have them, but applications from students without test scores will also be considered. 

The waiver applies to both domestic and international students. 

The university advises applicants that SAT/ACT scores are preferred for admission consideration for a limited number of accredited programs such as the Bachelor of Science in Nursing with limited capacity. In addition, admitted students who do not submit SAT/ACT scores may need to take placement tests during the orientation process to determine the appropriate English and/or mathematics courses to meet their educational needs. Finally, admitted students who do not submit SAT/ACT scores should be aware that they are eligible for a narrower range of merit awards than those who submit such scores.  

For more information on test optional, please contact the Admissions Office at 615-963-5101 or admissions@tnstate.edu. 

Tennessee State University maintains a rolling admission policy, but encourages students to apply early. We recommend that fall semester applicants apply for admission prior to Thanksgiving of their senior year in high school.

Note: SAT and/or ACT score(s) are not required if you are 21 years of age or older, or are a minimum of two years removed from high school.

*The Tennessee State University Office of Admissions will conduct a holistic review of every student’s application materials. While these numbers reflect our average student profile, we encourage students to speak with their personal admissions counselor about specific requirements for their program of interest.

Some departments, including Nursing, Radiology, and Respiratory Care, require students to meet additional, major-specific admission requirements. Please see the Tennessee State University Undergraduate Catalog for more details regarding specific requirements for your program of interest.