About MTSU

The Rankings of Middle Tennessee State University

• Ranked #47 by Forbes in their ranking of America's Best Colleges and Universities among all institutions, both public and private.
• Ranked #57 among public institutions in America
• Ranked #1 among public universities in Tennessee
• Ranked in the top 250 among American universities in U.S News & World Report
• 2nd largest and fastest growing in Tennessee with a student body of over 25,000.

Brief History

• Founded in 1911 as one of three state normal schools for teacher training.
• Became State Teachers College in 1925 and Bachelor of Science degree was offered.
• In 1936, Bachelor of Arts degree was added.
• Became State College in 1943. Graduate school added in 1951. Advanced to university status in 1965.
• MTSU is a Tennessee Board of Regents Institution.
• There are 33 academic departments and over 65% of the faculties have doctoral degrees.
• MTSU is a comprehensive, public university. Programs are offered through the Colleges of Basic and Applied Sciences, Business, Education & Behavioral Science, Liberal Arts, and Mass Communication.

Size/Location

• 137 permanent buildings (not including rentals, farm buildings, airport buildings, foundation buildings, farm manager home, and housing home)
• 4.1 Million square feet
• 504 acres
• one mile from the geographic center of Tennessee

Famous Alumni

• James M. Buchanan, Ph.D. ('40)
  1986 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences
  George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
• Rep. Bart Gordon ('71)
  Washington, DC
• Terry Weeks ('72, '74)
  National Teacher of the Year, 1988
  Currently an MTSU faculty member
• The late, former Sen. Albert Gore Sr. ('32)
  Carthage, TN

About Murfreesboro

• Murfreesboro is located just 30 minutes southeast of Nashville and is convenient to many places. It is the geographic center of Tennessee, east to west and north to south.
• MTSU is the second largest employer in Murfreesboro.
• The city is blessed with a pleasant, moderate weather. The average summer temperature is 25°C, and the average winter temperature is 2°C.
• Established as the town of Cannonsburgh, the city was renamed Murfreesboro after the Revolutionary War hero, Colonel Hardy Murfree. The city was the capital of Tennessee from 1818 to 1826.
• Murfreesboro's rich history is its biggest attraction and is evident in the many historical landmarks, especially the Stones River National Battlefield. The old structures blend with the modern buildings giving visitors a taste of the Old Southern charm with the amenities of a modern city.