Carson-Newman University
Jefferson City, TN · Private nonprofit · offers Graduate degrees
90%Acceptance rate
$20,251Average net price / year
53%Graduation rate
$48,382Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$21,500Median debt at graduation
1,387Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $34,700
- Total cost of attendance
- $49,024
- Room & board
- $11,800
- Books & supplies
- $1,600
- Average net price
- $20,251
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $16,672
- $30–48k
- $16,446
- $48–75k
- $17,313
- $75–110k
- $21,209
- $110k+
- $28,621
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 90.5%
- Average SAT
- 1117
- SAT reading (25–75%)
- 500–645
- SAT math (25–75%)
- 455–570
- ACT composite (25–75%)
- 19–25
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 53%
- First-year retention
- 74%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $39,324
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $48,382
- Median debt (graduates)
- $21,500
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 33%
- Students with federal loans
- 46%
Programs: what graduates earn
23 of 98 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Associate's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 33 | $35,843 | $12,000 |
Bachelor's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 47 | $56,509 | $23,000 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 10 | $44,404 | $19,207 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 14 | $43,685 | $26,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 51 | $42,904 | $21,464 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 15 | $42,222 | $24,861 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 5 | $28,221 | $19,235 |
| Psychology, General | 35 | $28,217 | $25,125 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 47 | $25,972 | $25,030 |
| Biology, General | 25 | — | $21,900 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 7 | $49,368 | $21,954 |
| Human Services, General | 8 | $42,420 | $19,000 |
| Psychology, Other | 0 | $49,609 | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 14 | $43,115 | — |
Master's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 125 | $91,780 | $41,234 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 62 | $58,386 | $18,133 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 26 | $56,458 | $24,250 |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | 9 | $54,626 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 13 | $49,873 | $19,118 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 33 | $47,369 | $27,000 |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 7 | $45,874 | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 18 | $42,054 | — |
Doctoral degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 58 | $70,998 | $41,000 |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 1,387
- Graduate students
- 1,448
- Part-time
- 3%
- Women / men
- 51% / 49%
- White
- 72%
- Hispanic
- 6%
- Black
- 10%
- Asian
- 1%
- International
- 6%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 12:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $57,483 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 52%
- Accreditor
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Website
- www.cn.edu
- Also known as
- NA
Most popular fields
- Computer & Information Sciences – 3% of degrees
- Education – 8% of degrees
- Liberal Arts & General Studies – 9% of degrees
- Biological Sciences – 7% of degrees
- Interdisciplinary Studies – 3% of degrees
- Parks, Recreation & Fitness – 16% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Carson-Newman University?
90.5% of applicants were admitted, and admitted students averaged 1117 on the SAT.
How much does Carson-Newman University cost?
The average net price after grants is $20,251 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $34,700 and the full cost of attendance is $49,024.
How much do Carson-Newman University graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $48,382 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
53% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.