About

About Tennessee Wesleyan University

small private collegenursing and health focussmall class sizesbusiness and education strengths

Tennessee Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college in Athens, TN, known for its small private college, nursing and health focus, and small class sizes. With an acceptance rate of 61%, Tennessee Wesleyan is accessible for most qualified applicants, typically enrolling around 200 students each year. Tennessee Wesleyan is test optional; students who submit scores are typically admitted with SATs between 940–1135, though many competitive applicants choose not to submit. Tennessee Wesleyan offers merit scholarships regardless of financial need, with awards averaging $21,549 per year; the sticker price of $38,890 may look very different from what your family actually pays.

Admissions

Tennessee Wesleyan University acceptance rate and admitted student profile

accessible for most qualified applicants

61%
Overall Accept Rate
3.50
Typical Admitted GPA
1038
Median Admitted SAT
SATSubmitted score range: 940 – 1135 (test optional)

Build your free list to see where your scores land →

Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to Tennessee Wesleyan University

The first 2 tips apply to all applicants. Your personalized strategy requires your profile — build your free list to unlock it.

Essay Strategy
Tennessee Wesleyan is a tight-knit campus of around 1,000 students in Athens, so use your essay to show how you thrive in small, collaborative environments and name specific programs or faculty at TWU that connect to your goals.
Extracurriculars
TWU values students who step up and lead, so emphasize any leadership roles you hold in clubs, sports, or community organizations because a small campus means more real opportunities to make an impact from day one.

Get a tailored strategy for Tennessee Wesleyan University. Build your free list to unlock personalized advice on submitting test scores and discover your actual admission odds based on your student profile.

Build My Free List →

Financial Aid & Cost

What Tennessee Wesleyan University actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Family IncomeSticker PriceAvg. Net Cost / yr
0-30k~$39k/yr$11.6k
30k-48k~$39k/yr$11.1k
48k-75k~$39k/yr$12.6k
75k-110k~$39k/yr$16.0k
110k+~$39k/yr$19.0k

Not sure what Tennessee Wesleyan University would cost your family? Build your free SpearMatch list. We show estimated net cost for every college on your list based on your income bracket.

Unlock real pricing for Tennessee Wesleyan University and matching colleges →

Personalize this page

Compare your profile to Tennessee Wesleyan University's admitted class

SpearMatch builds a tiered college list from your actual grades, scores, and preferences — and shows where you stand at every college. Free, no account, 4 minutes.

Build My Free List →

✓ Free forever  ·  ✓ No account  ·  ✓ 1,300+ four-year US colleges

Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

44%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$46k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
11:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
978
Undergrad Enrollment

Student Body

Student body composition

Race & Ethnicity

74%White
7%International
7%Hispanic
5%Black / African American
4%Unknown / Unreported
3%Two or More Races
1%Asian
0%American Indian / AK Native
0%Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
Gender36% Men · 64% Women
Citizenship / Immigration Status93% Citizens and Immigrants · 7% International
Tennessee Wesleyan, Athens Acceptance Rate & Admissions | SpearMatch