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There has been a controversy about the diversity on a PWI campus. Public schools have been desegregated since 1954 when the United States made a decision to do so. Black students are questioning their presence on the MTSU campus. 

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Activities that are allowed on a historically black college institution is very limited on a predominantly white institution. The amount of participation on campus is mostly white people. Though the events are intended for all races, African Americans feel otherwise. Black students on MTSU campus were asked why did they attend a PWI. Most of the students stated they wanted to be in a more diverse environment to help prepare them for their career. 

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There are organizations on MTSU campus created for predominantly black people such as National Pan-Hellenic Council, Black Student Union, Collegiate 100, Sweet Melanin, Ladies For A Change, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), etc. These organizations make an effort to create an environment that makes black people feel accepted. 

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The campus does not only lack diversity in the events but in faculty as well. According to MTSU faculty facebook page from 2018, there are 22 black professors out of 312 professors in the College of Liberal Arts. There are only 14 out of 217 black faculty members in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences. Also, There are 4 black educators out of 71 educators in the College of Media and Entertainment. 

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There is a total of 19,251 people at MTSU. 64.7% identify as White, 19.6 % as African American, 6.4% as Hispanic, 4.6% as Asian and 4.7% as Alaskan Natives and others. Though PWIs were not intended for African Americans or other minorities the institution takes steps to create a more welcome environment through programs, scholarships, etc.