Middle Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Middle Tennessee State University at a Glance
Middle Tennessee State University is a public research university in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1911 as a normal school, the university consists of eight undergraduate colleges as well as a college of graduate studies, together offering more than 300 degree programs through more than 35 departments. It is classified among "R2: Universities".
1911
115 years old
$168M
$167.7 million (2025)
20,488
18,042 undergrad · 2,446 grad
1,223
500 acres
Identity
Is Middle Tennessee State University Worth It?
Middle Tennessee State University offers moderate value at $13,359/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $48,541, which is 10% below average — meaning the financial payoff takes longer than typical. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 54% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
How Middle Tennessee State University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #37 of 81 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #2 | Modesto Junior College | 100 | $2,818 | $42,368 |
| #3 | Santa Ana College | 100 | $3,133 | $43,552 |
| #4 | Santa Monica College | 100 | $2,779 | $42,193 |
| #5 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #6 | Florida Atlantic University | 100 | $8,752 | $56,746 |
| #37 | Middle Tennessee State University | 49 | $13,359 | $48,541 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Middle Tennessee State University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 2 in TN.
Best Programs at Middle Tennessee State University
The highest-earning program at Middle Tennessee State University is Engineering-Related Fields at $57,300/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services at $21,100/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Engineering-Related Fields graduate from Middle Tennessee State University earns $57,300, while a Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services graduate earns $21,100. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry $21,884 in median debt vs. $20,500 for Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $13,359/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering-Related Fields | $57,300 | $57,300 | $21,884 |
| Construction Management | $57,200 | $57,200 | N/A |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $54,200 | $54,200 | $23,000 |
| Computer Science | $50,700 | $50,700 | $28,003 |
| Engineering Technology, General | $47,200 | $47,200 | $24,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $44,500 | $44,500 | $24,512 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $42,500 | $42,500 | $22,341 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $41,500 | $41,500 | $16,623 |
| Air Transportation | $40,800 | $40,800 | $24,875 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $37,800 | $37,800 | $21,585 |
| Mathematics | $37,600 | $37,600 | $17,900 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $35,600 | $35,600 | $23,048 |
| Marketing | $34,200 | $34,200 | $20,047 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $34,100 | $34,100 | $23,250 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $32,300 | $32,300 | $14,834 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $31,900 | $31,900 | $26,500 |
| Music | $31,400 | $31,400 | $26,461 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $31,300 | $31,300 | $23,125 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $30,900 | $30,900 | $17,860 |
| Political Science and Government | $30,400 | $30,400 | $25,000 |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management | $29,800 | $29,800 | $21,600 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $29,800 | $29,800 | $30,175 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $28,800 | $28,800 | $19,132 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $28,700 | $28,700 | $24,187 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $28,600 | $28,600 | $24,000 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $28,500 | $28,500 | $21,810 |
| Biology, General | $28,000 | $28,000 | $22,975 |
| History | $28,000 | $28,000 | $21,095 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $27,600 | $27,600 | $22,000 |
| Psychology, General | $27,000 | $27,000 | $21,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $26,900 | $26,900 | $21,500 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $26,700 | $26,700 | $24,530 |
| Social Work | $26,700 | $26,700 | $24,093 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $26,600 | $26,600 | $22,423 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | $25,900 | $25,900 | $19,000 |
| Sociology | $25,900 | $25,900 | $24,750 |
| Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management | $25,600 | $25,600 | $21,312 |
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | $25,500 | $25,500 | $27,000 |
| Animal Sciences | $24,400 | $24,400 | $19,500 |
| International/Global Studies | $21,200 | $21,200 | $20,548 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $21,100 | $21,100 | $20,500 |
Similar Colleges in TN
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Murfreesboro, TN
- Student Body
- 16,301 students
- Admission Rate
- 69%
- Graduation Rate
- 54%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $13,359
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $48,541
- Median Student Debt
- $20,000