More than 100 people were gathered at an apartment complex near the Nashville campus when a group of armed men were denied entry, police told NBC-affiliated television station WSMV on Wedneday.
The trio opened fired and dashed. Police are still hunting for the on-the-run shooters.
Three students — one from TSU, one from Volunteer State Community College and another from Middle Tennessee State University — were shot.
One of the victims is in critical condition while the other two suffered minor gunshot wounds, police said.
MTSU’s Murfreesboro campus is about 40 miles southeast of Nashville, and Vol State’s Gallatin campus is 25 miles northeast of the city.
It’s not clear why students from the three schools were gathered near TSU’s campus.
Police are hunting for three suspects, WKRN reported. One is described as a 5-foot-9 220-pound black male with a fade haircut wearing a gray hoodie and beige pants. The second is a 5-foot-11, 160-pound black male with dreadlocks wearing a purple sweatshirt. The third suspect, whose physical description was not reported, is wearing a green hoodie.