A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at Tennessee State University are mostly Black with a smaller White population. The school has low racial diversity. 86% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
Tennessee State University is a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) primarily serving the African-American community.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
14%
|
| Black |
70%
|
| Hispanic |
1%
|
| Asian |
1%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
3%
|
| International |
11%
|
| Race Unknown |
0%
|
There are 92% more female students than male students enrolled at Tennessee State University with a gender ratio of 66% women to 34% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, Tennessee State University has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is less inclusive of males.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
34%
|
| Women |
66%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
3,158
|
| Women |
6,060
|
Tennessee State University serves a high number of out-of-state students with 62% of the student body residing outside of Tennessee or from other countries.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
38%
|
| Out of State |
61%
|
| Foreign |
1%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
59% of students can be considered low-income as indicated by their receipt of Federal Pell Grant Aid.
| Segment | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Students Over 25 Years Old | 25.5% |
| Part time Undergrads | 17.8% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=221838 IPEDS survey data for Tennessee State University.