Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Tennessee Wesleyan University #1044 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,242 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Tennessee Wesleyan University in the 35.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Median earnings four years after enrollment are $53,707, placing the institution in the 13.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Tennessee Wesleyan University #1044 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Athens, Tennessee, Tennessee Wesleyan University enrolls roughly 846 undergraduates. Retention is 72.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 47.6%, reflecting solid student persistence through degree completion. Tennessee Wesleyan University draws strength from its focus on health-related fields and its commitment to serving low-income and first-generation students. 39.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 41.5% are first-generation college students. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $53,707, and Tennessee Wesleyan University sits in the 35.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Tennessee Wesleyan University #1131 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The composite reflects a balanced profile across access, affordability, and mobility. Tennessee Wesleyan University sits in the 43.0 percentile for access, the 77.1 percentile for affordability, and the 5.7 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students seeking a smaller, values-driven institution with strong outcomes in health professions and meaningful support for low-income learners, Tennessee Wesleyan University offers a pathway to stable post-graduation earnings and career mobility.
Tennessee Wesleyan University's published cost of attendance is $39,440. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $11,609; middle-income families pay around $12,647; higher-income families pay approximately $18,980. Azimuth ranks Tennessee Wesleyan University #327 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Tennessee Wesleyan's aid structure combines need-based grants and federal loans to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Most students receive some form of financial aid, and the aid package typically includes a mix of grants and loans rather than loans alone. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,585; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $53,707, median federal debt of $20,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $226 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Tennessee Wesleyan University is a strong fit for students drawn to health-oriented fields who want a private nonprofit university experience in Athens, TN. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $53,707, placing Tennessee Wesleyan University in the 13.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $5,242 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Tennessee Wesleyan University in the 35.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 39.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 41.5% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Tennessee Wesleyan University in the 44.0 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 68.8% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors health fields over STEM or business. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find strong earnings trajectories and aid packages.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Tennessee Wesleyan University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
82 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
13 graduates
Marketing
12 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
56 graduates
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
18 graduates
Tennessee Wesleyan University's program mix is anchored in health-related fields, reflecting the institution's focus on preparing students for careers in nursing, allied health, and related professions. Nursing is the largest program with 82 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Kinesiology, Teacher Education, and Dental Support Services and Allied Professions.
The highest-earning programs at Tennessee Wesleyan University reflect the institution's health-professions orientation. Nursing graduates earn median earnings of $71,084 four years after enrollment with 82 graduates, while Accounting delivers median earnings of $70,782 with 13 graduates.
Digital Marketing and Business Administration also provide solid early-career outcomes, with median earnings of $61,564 and $61,103 respectively. These programs represent direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market entry and compensation in healthcare and related sectors.
The concentration in Health fields positions Tennessee Wesleyan University within a labor market experiencing sustained demand for healthcare professionals. As a smaller institution graduating roughly 277 students annually across all programs, Tennessee Wesleyan University maintains focused program depth in fields where employer recruitment remains strong and career pathways are clearly defined.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of The Cumberlands Higher acceptance rate (12 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 92 miles away; similar graduate earnings | KY | 71% | $45,036 | Compare |
Piedmont University Higher acceptance rate (33.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 85 miles away; similar graduate earnings | GA | 93% | $49,130 | Compare |
Truett Mcconnell University Higher acceptance rate (31.3 percentage points higher) and located 76 miles away; similar graduate earnings | GA | 91% | $46,700 | Compare |
Mississippi University For Women Higher acceptance rate (40.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | MS | 100% | $46,128 | Compare |
Marshall University Higher acceptance rate (37.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | WV | 96% | $46,354 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spartanburg Methodist College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#30545 ranked) | SC | 78% | $42,895 | #30545 | Compare |
Misericordia University Similar quality tier (#30539 ranked) | PA | 71% | $64,313 | #30539 | Compare |
Meredith College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#30530 ranked) | NC | 74% | $51,539 | #30530 | Compare |
Newman University Similar quality tier (#30527 ranked) | KS | 74% | $55,041 | #30527 | Compare |
Salve Regina University Similar quality tier (#30547 ranked) | RI | 68% | $72,975 | #30547 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Tennessee Wesleyan University's published cost of attendance is $39,440. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels.
Low-income families pay approximately $11,609; middle-income families pay around $12,647; higher-income families pay approximately $18,980. Azimuth ranks Tennessee Wesleyan University #327 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Tennessee Wesleyan's aid structure combines need-based grants and federal loans to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay.
The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Most students receive some form of financial aid, and the aid package typically includes a mix of grants and loans rather than loans alone.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,585; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $53,707, median federal debt of $20,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $226 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Tennessee Wesleyan University earn median 4-year earnings of $53,707, placing Tennessee Wesleyan University in the 13.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,242 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Tennessee Wesleyan University in the 35.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Tennessee Wesleyan University #1131 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Tennessee Wesleyan University's concentration in health-related fields.
Nursing is the largest program with 82 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $71,084, performing at 0.8x the national benchmark for the field. The Business Administration program graduates 56 students with median 4-year earnings of $61,103, at 0.9x benchmark.
Kinesiology and Teacher Education round out the top programs, with 19 and 18 graduates respectively earning $37,118 and $46,925 four years after enrollment. This program-level consistency in health and allied health fields, where Health represents the institution's primary focus, supports the institution's solid long-term financial outcomes for graduates entering stable, in-demand healthcare careers.
