Tennessee Wesleyan University
A good fit for families looking for lower cost and students who want small classes and close faculty access. no major red flags in the data. generous financial aid cuts net price well below sticker.
About This School
Tennessee Wesleyan University is a private nonprofit institution located in Athens, Tennessee with approximately 846 undergraduate students enrolled. Tennessee Wesleyan University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 69%. The average net price after financial aid is $14,836 per year. The graduation rate is 48%, and the typical graduate earns $43,700 within 10 years of enrollment.
Tennessee Wesleyan University (TWU) is a private Methodist university in Athens, Tennessee. It was founded in 1857 and is affiliated with the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church. It maintains a branch campus in Knoxville, where it offers evening programs in business administration. It also conducts its nursing classes in Knoxville.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: the 44% graduation rate and 64% freshman retention rate suggest many students don't finish, which is worth taking seriously before enrolling. On the positive side, the average net price of $14,879/year is genuinely affordable, and median debt at graduation sits at just $14,000 — manageable given median earnings of $43,700 a decade out. Worth considering if you're drawn to a small, faith-affiliated community in East Tennessee and have a clear plan to stay on track, but families should ask hard questions about academic support and what's driving that attrition.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 4% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (846 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in Tennessee
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · Public
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN · Public
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN · Public
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · Public
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN · Public
South College
Knoxville, TN · Private for-profit
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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