RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WGNS News) - Middle Tennessee State University continues to experience a wave of trans-formative growth, completely redefining what campus life looks like for its bustling student body of over 20,000 students. As the largest locally governed university in Tennessee, MTSU is making massive investments to accommodate both incoming freshmen and upperclassmen seeking a more modernized residential experience. One of the most highly anticipated developments is the groundbreaking of Womack Commons, marking the first new student housing complex added to the campus in over 25 years. Be sure to listen to our 10-minute podcast directly above this article to learn more about MTSU and new students that have recently enrolled in classes at the university. 

The evolution of the Murfreesboro campus is impossible to ignore... That was Gina Poff, Director of New Student and Family Programs. One of the buildings that parents who once called the school home - won't be able to recognize today is the KOM, or the Kirksey Old Main building. It was one of the first buildings to be built on the campus that was founded in 1911. The KOM is arguably, the most iconic building still standing today. In 2024, the university received the green-light to renovate the building to the tune of a $54.3-million face-lift. The restorative project is receiving the final touches right now and will be completed in a matter of weeks.

New student living space will open next year as the Womack Commons project begins to take shape. The five-story, 161,000-square-foot housing development is slated for completion in the summer of 2027. After breaking ground earlier this year, the new structure will bring 554 new beds to the university.

Womack Commons, an $83 million project, will offer a mix of pod-style and semi-suite living arrangements through a public-private partnership with The Annex Group, replacing the aging 50-year-old Womack Lane apartments. By retaining 11 acres of the surrounding site, the university is also leaving room for future housing or parking expansions.

From becoming an airline pilot for a major airline company, to teaching 5th grade math in a local school classroom, the future options for students is unlimited... Some students have gone on to win “Top Country Artist” Billboard Awards in the music industry, while others have opened new doors in the world of Hollywood acting, thanks to the keys they received at MTSU.

Living at MTSU or attending classes at the university is no longer just about having a place to learn or, for those who live on campus, a place to sleep. Today, it's about fostering a more comprehensive community and helping students understand how to become involved in the place they call home now, as well as the communities where they may build a future after earning a degree...

MTSU has seen a recent uptick in enrollment over the past 4 to 5 semesters and has experienced nearly a 2 percent increase in student numbers... The university has more than 20,000 students in attendance and ranks highly in multiple categories, according to U.S. News & World Report. MTSU is ranked among the top business programs in the country and is consistently recognized as a strong performer in both undergraduate and graduate disciplines, including nursing and psychology. The university also ranks highly for its engineering programs.

• PODCAST: Listen to our 10-minute interview that WGNS' Scott Walker did with Gina Poff, in the New Student and Family Programs Department at MTSU. The interview is directly above this article. Simply hit the play button or right click and download the interview to listen later.

Interesting Statistics: According a past U.S. News and World Report Survey, about 17% of MTSU students live in college-owned, operated or affiliated housing. Also of interest, the student population is made-up of close to equal numbers of male vs. female students. Nationally, there is an absolute difference of 16% more females attending college today than males (nationwide). But at MTSU, that difference only varies by about 5.4%, with more females than males.

MTSU also has a specially focused program – or department for U.S. Veterans and the same report showed that more than 3% of the students at the university have served or are currently serving in the U.S. military.

Questions about the on-campus Passport Office? It is open to the public and located in the campus Post Office in the Keathly University Center.