Tennessee Wesleyan University

204 East College Street, Athens, TN 37303

Private not-for-profit 4-year

The BSW Program at Tennessee Wesleyan University

Tennessee Wesleyan University awarded 9 bachelor's degrees in social work in the most recent reporting year, ranking #448 of the 587 colleges nationally that offer the degree. This is a small program, which cuts both ways: cohorts are tight and faculty access is easy, but course rotations can be less frequent and specialization options narrower than at a larger school.

43.6% of students complete their degree, below the 50.4% median across BSW-awarding colleges — worth asking the department about directly. Students who finish take a median of 5 years to do it. Unusually, part-time students complete at a higher rate here (61.3%) than full-time students (31.0%) — often a sign of a program built around people already working in the field.

The average student pays $15,125 a year after grants and scholarships — $2,910 below the $18,035 median across the 19 BSW colleges in Tennessee. 47.0% of first-time students receive Pell Grants, a high share that usually reflects a student body with substantial financial need — and a financial aid office practiced at handling it. Net price is the number that matters when comparing programs, not sticker tuition — and because most social work roles are with government or nonprofit employers, graduates are typically eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Figures from IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education. Completion and net-price comparisons are against the 618 BSW-awarding colleges in this directory.

Key Statistics

1,198
Total Students
918
Undergraduates
12:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
N/A
Campus Housing

Can I get in?

Admissions

69%
Acceptance Rate
621 admitted out of 902 applicants

Admissions Requirements

High School GPA: Required
School Record: Required
Test Scores: Considered
Recommendations: Considered
College Prep: Considered

SAT Scores (25th-75th Percentile)

1% of first-time students submitted SAT scores

ACT Scores (25th-75th Percentile)

Composite
19 - 23
English
19 - 25
Math
17 - 24
74% of first-time students submitted ACT scores

Can I afford it?

Tuition & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees (2024-2025)

In/Out-of-State
$29,264

Living Arrangements

Living cost information not available

Financial Aid

$15,125
Average Net Price
After grants and scholarships

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Net Price
$0 - $30,000 $11,609
$30,001 - $48,000 $11,088
$48,001 - $75,000 $12,647
$75,001 - $110,000 $16,043
$110,001+ $18,980
47%
Receive Pell Grants
52%
Students Borrowing
$6,939
Avg. Loan Amount

Will I graduate?

Student Outcomes

Completion Rates

44%
Overall
31%
Full-Time
61%
Part-Time
52%
First-Time Students
49%
Transfer Students
9%
Transfer Out

Time to Degree

4-Year Completion 41%
6-Year Completion 44%
8-Year Completion 44%
Median Time to Degree: 5 years

What's the campus like?

Student Demographics

Undergraduate Gender

Male
37.1%
Female
62.9%

Distance Education

Exclusively Distance
14%
Some Distance
80.4%
No Distance
5.6%

Graduate Distance Education

Exclusively Distance
11.6%
Some Distance
81.1%
No Distance
7.3%

Undergraduate Race/Ethnicity

White
67.9%
Black or African American
4.5%
Hispanic/Latino
5.3%
Asian
2.3%
American Indian/Alaska Native
0.1%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0.1%
Two or More Races
2.5%
Non-Resident Alien
13.7%
Unknown
3.6%

Degrees & Awards Offered

Bachelor's Degree

Contact Information

Phone
4237457504
Address
204 East College Street, Athens, TN 37303
IPEDS ID
221731

Where a BSW Leads

Graduates of undefined and other CSWE-accredited BSW programs work across six main practice areas, and pay differs between them by more than most prospective students expect. Each guide below carries the full BLS percentile spread, pay by work setting, and pay by state. Figures are May 2025 medians.

Not sure which fits? Start with the career and salary overview or the is social work for me self-assessment.