National Ranking Lists TSU as Affordable College for Outdoor Enthusiasts

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – For the second time in less than a week, Tennessee State University is garnering national attention and accolades as one of the top college values in the country.

According to the website, GreatValueColleges.net, TSU has been named as one of the 50 top “Great Affordable Colleges for Outdoor Enthusiasts.” The ranking features schools across the country and chosen by the website’s editors for the most affordable colleges that are ideal for students who have a passion for outdoor living.

The sources used in compiling the list include a number of articles about both the top schools for outdoor enthusiasts and the best cities for people who love nature and have active lifestyles, including Forbes Magazine’s Best Cities for the Outdoors.

Initially, a long list of hundreds of schools was compiled based on colleges located in or around top-rated cities, and schools that have stellar academic and recreation programs for outdoor sports and adventures, which could include anything from a major in Outdoor Recreation to a tournament-winning rock climbing team.

The list, according to editors, was then pared down by selecting only those that had below-average tuition rates, based on the average tuition for public schools (both in-state and out-of-state) and private schools. At the end, only 50 schools remained including TSU.

According to the website, the editors consider Nashville a great place for outdoor enthusiasts to relocate, with moderate temperatures and clean air. “The city is located on the banks of the Cumberland River and is amidst a background of rolling hills,” wrote the editors in the online report. “Tennessee State has a large Wellness and Recreation Center where students can take classes from kickboxing to dance, and a large number of athletic teams and intramural clubs for outdoor lovers to consider.”

The article goes on to mention that for the academic-minded students, the extensive agriculture and environmental sciences program offers a chance to get out in the sun and study their concentrations at either the Ashland City Agricultural Research and Extension Center or Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center.

Tennessee State was one of 14 colleges selected from the south region, joining two other institutions in the state, including Belmont University and the University of Memphis for the honor.

This accolade comes on the heels of Educate to Career’s national ranking of TSU as one of the top four-year schools in the nation that offers the best return on investment, ranking the University number 76 in its ETC College Rankings index.

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