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Carson-Newman University

Jefferson City, Tennessee 37760

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

Tight-knitSuburban

Known for business — close-knit campus

Carson-Newman University is a private institution in Jefferson City with particular strength in business and health sciences. With an average SAT of 1111, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A small campus of 1.4K undergraduates with a 12:1 student-faculty ratio. The suburban location offers a balance of campus life and nearby amenities.

46% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $48,382 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $18,661.

Established
1851
Motto
Truth, Beauty, Goodness
Type
Private university
Division
Division II

Campus Visits

46 upcoming visits · Next: Fri, May 29 · Campus Tour

Plan Your Visit

68%Acceptance
1111SAT Avg
1,374Students
12:1Student:Faculty
46%Grad Rate
$48,382Earnings 10yr
$18,661Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate68.3%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1111

Reading & WritingMid: 535
480570
MathMid: 510
460560

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 22
1925

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$34,700
Room & Board$10,507
Books & Supplies$1,600
Total Cost of Attendance$46,345
Average Net Price$18,661
Median Debt at Graduation$21,500
Monthly Payment (10yr)$228

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$15,134
$30–48K$15,829
$48–75K$17,326
$75–110K$24,387
$110K+$25,010

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

48.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

4.0%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$14,519

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

9

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

2

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

3

Drug Arrests

2

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (95)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

74%

Mixed

Student Body

Undergrads
1,374
Gender Split
51% / 49%
Women / Men
First Generation
35%
Pell Grant Recipients
39%

Race & Ethnicity

White 71%
Black 11%
Hispanic 6%
Asian 1%
Two+ 3%
Int'l 6%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate46.5%
Freshman Retention73.6%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$39,324
10 Years$48,382

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

More About This School

Varsity Sports

Varsity sports

History & Fun Facts

  • In 1880, the institution was named Carson College for James Harvey Carson, who left $15,000 of his estate to the school.
  • In 1889, the two colleges united as one of the first coeducational institutions in the South.
  • The institution operated as Carson-Newman College until 2012 when the board of trustees voted to acknowledge recent organizational changes by changing the name to Carson-Newman University.
  • In 1919, Carson-Newman became officially affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention.
  • The college was admitted to membership in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1927 and the Association of American Colleges in 1928.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

93Average

Estimated from TN state average + suburban adjustment

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 5"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Charlottepop. 880K
161 mi(279 min)
Atlantapop. 500K
172 mi(298 min)
Nashvillepop. 690K
184 mi(319 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

CLT Charlotte156 mi
BNA Nashville178 mi
ATL Atlanta180 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA791 mi · ~22h 51m drive
New York, NY603 mi · ~17h 25m drive
Hartford, CT699 mi · ~20h 12m drive
Providence, RI758 mi · ~21h 54m drive
Albany, NY688 mi · ~19h 53m drive
Syracuse, NY617 mi · ~17h 49m drive
Rochester, NY578 mi · ~16h 42m drive
Buffalo, NY528 mi · ~15h 15m drive
Philadelphia, PA524 mi · ~15h 8m drive
Pittsburgh, PA353 mi · ~10h 12m drive
Harrisburg, PA459 mi · ~13h 16m drive
Newark, NJ596 mi · ~17h 13m drive
Washington, DC403 mi · ~11h 39m drive
Baltimore, MD435 mi · ~12h 34m drive
Atlanta, GA172 mi · ~4h 58m drive
Charlotte, NC161 mi · ~4h 39m drive
Raleigh, NC272 mi · ~7h 51m drive
Miami, FL742 mi · ~21h 26m drive
Orlando, FL538 mi · ~15h 33m drive
Tampa, FL568 mi · ~16h 25m drive
Nashville, TN184 mi · ~5h 19m drive
New Orleans, LA572 mi · ~16h 31m drive
Richmond, VA349 mi · ~10h 5m drive
Chicago, IL455 mi · ~13h 9m drive
Detroit, MI430 mi · ~12h 25m drive
Minneapolis, MN797 mi · ~23h 1m drive
St. Louis, MO407 mi · ~11h 45m drive
Kansas City, MO640 mi · ~18h 29m drive
Indianapolis, IN291 mi · ~8h 24m drive
Columbus, OH267 mi · ~7h 43m drive
Cleveland, OH384 mi · ~11h 6m drive
Milwaukee, WI532 mi · ~15h 22m drive
Dallas, TX792 mi · ~22h 53m drive
Houston, TX816 mi · ~23h 34m drive
Austin, TX917 mi · ~26h 29m drive
San Antonio, TX985 mi · ~28h 27m drive
Los Angeles, CA1960 mi · ~56h 37m drive
San Francisco, CA2137 mi · ~61h 44m drive
San Diego, CA1924 mi · ~55h 35m drive
Seattle, WA2123 mi · ~61h 20m drive
Portland, OR2126 mi · ~61h 25m drive
Denver, CO1195 mi · ~34h 31m drive
Phoenix, AZ1627 mi · ~47h drive
Salt Lake City, UT1563 mi · ~45h 9m drive
Honolulu, HI4516 mi · ~130h 28m drive
Southern (mild winters, hot summers)

Visit Planning

Deadline Calendar

Carson-Newman University Application Checklist

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