Miami, FL - WalletHub, a well known research organization, has released its latest rankings for the top 822 colleges and universities in the United States, covering factors such as educational rankings, student-teacher ratio, and campus safety. Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and Murfreesboro made it on the list, bringing a touch of local pride to the national stage!
Out of 822 institutions, MTSU landed at an overall ranking of 343, which isn’t too shabby when you consider the competition includes giants like MIT, Harvard, and Princeton. And while a successful business depends on loyal customers, for universities, it’s all about the students. WalletHub’s research highlights that student living expenses can exceed $36,000 per year, making it crucial to study in a city with affordable living costs, decent job prospects, and a lively social scene for handling college stress.
So, where does Tennessee’s largest undergraduate campus rank in popularity in the category of “Student Selectivity Rank?” Good question… MTSU holds position #304 out of WalletHub’s 822 schools—a pretty decent showing. Looking at percentile rankings, the Blue Raiders scored 58% in the “BEST” category. As for affordability, MTSU ranked at 67%, above the assumed 50% average—a welcome stat for those watching tuition dollars.
For concerned parents, WalletHub offers a mixed bag: MTSU’s Murfreesboro campus is ranked #730 for safety among the 822 schools. On a brighter note, MTSU scored respectably in faculty resources (#519), campus experience (#637), educational outcomes (#530), and career prospects (#678).
WalletHub also ranked 415 college towns, placing Murfreesboro at #193. How does this rank with other Volunteer State cities? Nashville shines at #34, Knoxville at #46, with Clarksville (#351) and Memphis (#357) rounding out the list. For fans of the University of the South in Sewanee, the school placed #119 nationally, earning a solid spot in the “BEST” 86% tier.
Breaking down regional performance, Vanderbilt led Tennessee schools in the South, securing #6, while Sewanee landed at #21, and MTSU came in at a respectable #77 out of 279 in the Southern category. When it comes to college acceptance, some schools are tougher than others, with Harvard, Caltech, and Princeton topping the list of most selective. Meanwhile, Middle Georgia State University and Bethune-Cookman University lead the list of easiest colleges for admissions.
And who’s #1 in WalletHub’s study? Princeton University tops the overall rankings for 2025, with a meager 4% acceptance rate and 93% of incoming students in the top 10% of their high school class.
Like life, some colleges scored easier than others at accepting students. Wallethub’s ranked the top five most difficult for being admitted?
- Harvard
- California Institute of Technology
- Columbia University (NYC)
- Princeton University (NJ)
- Stanford University (CA)
On the opposite end of the spectrum, what are the 5 easiest schools for acceptance?
- Middle Georgia State University
- Bethune-Cookman University (FL)
- Colorado State University Pueblo (CO)
- Harding University (AR)
- Southern Virginia University
Tops With WalletHub
Princeton University is the best university for 2025 and the best place for higher education overall. It only has a 4% acceptance rate, and 93% of incoming students were in the top 10% of their graduating classes.
