MTSU is divided into seven colleges:
- College of Basic and Applied Sciences
- College of Education and Behavioral Science
- College of Graduate Studies
- College of Liberal Arts
- College of Mass Communication
- Jennings A. Jones College of Business
- University Honors College
Eight Bachelor degrees are offered:
- Arts
- Business Administration
- Fine Arts
- Music
- Science
- Science in Nursing
- Social Work
- University Studies
The College of Graduate Studies confers Master's degrees in nine areas, the Specialist in Education degree, and the Doctor of
Arts degree.MTSU's first Ph.D. was awarded in May 2003, though the university had awarded many Doctor of Arts degrees in the past.MTSU employs approximately 800 full-time faculty members.MTSU was founded on its education program, and it remains one of the highest-enrolled programs at the university. Nursing,
another staple among Tennessee universities, also was a large part of MTSU's
early identity. In recent years, MTSU has become known for its newer programs, including Aerospace, Journalism, Broadcasting, and
Recording Industry.The Department of Recording Industry (part of the College of Mass Communication, and commonly referred to by the acronym "RIM"
for its former name "Recording Industry Management") is the university's most popular program. Students must place themselves on
a waiting list before they are allowed admittance into the program. The department recently began rejecting students for the
first time, a strong tribute to its popularity, and assuring exclusivity for the best students. Its close proximity to Nashville, a mecca for music recording, provides incredible resources for this
outstanding department, which is regularly recognized as one of the best the nation has to offer.The Department of Aerospace has a working agreement with the single-runway Murfreesboro Airport to provide many of its classes on-site. A retired 747 airliner is housed at
the airport as a teaching tool. American Airlines has donated a
state-of-the-art cockpit simulator to MTSU. It is housed in the Business & Aerospace Building near the center of campus.MTSU classifies itself as a regional university, and primarily draws its student base from the areas surrounding Nashville and Murfreesboro. As the school has grown larger, its student base has expanded. The Aerospace and
Recording Industry programs regularly draw students from outside the state of Tennessee. Most other programs primarily draw students from inside the state.