Middle Tennessee State University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Psychology from its Murfreesboro, Tennessee campus. The psychology major is 38 credit hours within a 120-credit-hour degree and includes five psychology minor options. MTSU is regionally accredited by SACSCOC and has operated under its own Board of Trustees since 2017.
Founded in 1911, Middle Tennessee State University is located in Murfreesboro, in the geographic center of Tennessee. It’s a comprehensive public university with about 20,500 students enrolled across more than 130 undergraduate and 100 graduate programs. Since 2017, MTSU has been governed by its own Board of Trustees under Tennessee’s FOCUS Act, separate from the Tennessee Board of Regents. For a broader look at accredited options in the state, see our guide to psychology programs in Tennessee.
Middle Tennessee State University Accreditation Details
MTSU is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Individual programs hold additional accreditations from the following agencies:
- AACSB International — Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) — Computing Accreditation Commission
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) — Engineering Accreditation Commission
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) — Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission
- Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
- Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC)
- Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI)
- Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC)
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA)
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
- National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)
- National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC)
- Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America)
Middle Tennessee State University Application Requirements
First-time freshmen are admitted through two paths. Standard admission requires a 3.0 GPA or a minimum ACT composite score of 22 (SAT equivalent approximately 1120). Students with a 2.7 GPA and an ACT score of 19 or an SAT score of 990 may also be considered. Test scores are required for all applicants under age 21. Students must submit an application, pay the $25 application fee, and provide official test scores and transcripts.
Transfer students with 24 or more college credits need a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA. Those with fewer than 24 credit hours must meet freshman admission standards. Official transcripts from all previously attended high schools and colleges are required; transfer applicants under 21 with fewer than 24 credits must also submit ACT or SAT scores.
Graduate applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree for master’s-level programs, or a master’s degree for doctoral programs, with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75. Some graduate programs require official standardized test scores. The graduate application fee is $50.
Middle Tennessee State University Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2026–27, undergraduate in-state tuition is $365 per credit hour (for the first 12 hours per semester); out-of-state students taking courses on campus pay $1,311 per credit hour. Out-of-state students enrolled exclusively in online courses may qualify for the eRate of $456 per credit hour instead of the standard out-of-state rate. Graduate in-state tuition is $623 per credit hour (for the first 10 hours per semester); out-of-state graduate tuition is $1,722 per credit hour. Financial aid is available through grants, loans, federal work-study, and scholarships. Students must complete the FAFSA to qualify for any federal financial aid.
Psychology Programs at Middle Tennessee State University
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The BS in Psychology at MTSU is a 38-credit-hour major within a 120-credit-hour degree. Coursework spans behavior and mental processes across the arts, sciences, and humanities, with 12 hours of electives students select to match their career or graduate school goals. A grade of C- or better is required in all core courses. Students are also required to complete two 15-hour minors; at least one must come from outside the Psychology Department. If you’re weighing program formats, our BA or BS in Psychology guide breaks down what each path typically covers and where they lead. The program is available fully online through MTSU Online, following the same curriculum as the on-campus program.
MTSU also offers a separate Bachelor of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology for students focused on applying psychological principles in workplace and organizational settings.
Psychology Minors
Students can earn a minor in one of five psychology fields: Psychology, Lifespan Development, Mental Health Services, Industrial-Organizational, and Neuroscience. Each minor requires 15 semester hours.
Graduate Programs in Psychology
The Department of Psychology offers Master of Arts degrees with concentrations in Applied Research and Methodology, Clinical Psychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, and a Pre-Specialist in Education: School Psychology track. The School Psychology program leads to a combined M.A. and Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree and is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). For current admission requirements and faculty contacts, visit the MTSU Department of Psychology directly.
Compare accredited psychology programs at schools across Tennessee and nationally to find the right fit for your goals.