Tennessee Technological University
Tennessee Technological University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Tennessee Technological University at a Glance
Tennessee Technological University is a public research university in Cookeville, Tennessee, United States. It was formerly known as Tennessee Polytechnic Institute (TPI), and before that as University of Dixie, the name under which it was founded as a private institution. Affiliated with the Tennessee Board of Regents, the university is governed by a board of trustees. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".
1915
111 years old
$120M
$120.45 million (2025)
10,701
550
235 acres
Identity
Is Tennessee Technological University Worth It?
Tennessee Technological University offers moderate value at $14,246/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $48,501, 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 1.2 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 56% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 6 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
How Tennessee Technological University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #52 of 144 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 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #3 | Indian River State College | 100 | $3,815 | $38,315 |
| #4 | Taft College | 96 | $2,823 | $38,861 |
| #5 | Pensacola State College | 91 | $3,957 | $36,739 |
| #6 | Gulf Coast State College | 90 | $4,709 | $38,359 |
| #52 | Tennessee Technological University | 48 | $14,246 | $48,501 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Tennessee Technological 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 Tennessee Technological University
The highest-earning program at Tennessee Technological University is Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at $67,500/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Fine and Studio Arts at $17,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduate from Tennessee Technological University earns $67,500, while a Fine and Studio Arts graduate earns $17,700. 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: Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduates carry $15,925 in median debt vs. $16,250 for Fine and Studio Arts.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $14,246/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $67,500 | $67,500 | $15,925 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $64,200 | $64,200 | $18,875 |
| Engineering Technology, General | $58,100 | $58,100 | $20,500 |
| Chemical Engineering | $57,500 | $57,500 | $15,750 |
| Computer Science | $57,000 | $57,000 | $17,556 |
| Civil Engineering | $51,300 | $51,300 | $20,844 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $51,300 | $51,300 | $19,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $37,500 | $37,500 | $15,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $37,300 | $37,300 | $16,295 |
| Marketing | $36,400 | $36,400 | $18,000 |
| Agriculture, General | $36,300 | $36,300 | $16,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $35,600 | $35,600 | $17,523 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $33,700 | $33,700 | $14,998 |
| Sociology | $27,900 | $27,900 | $17,000 |
| Music | $27,300 | $27,300 | $18,860 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $27,200 | $27,200 | $16,250 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | $26,800 | $26,800 | $16,750 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | $26,600 | $26,600 | $20,000 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $26,600 | $26,600 | $19,576 |
| Psychology, General | $24,200 | $24,200 | $18,899 |
| Biology, General | $22,900 | $22,900 | $13,500 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $22,800 | $22,800 | $17,790 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $17,700 | $17,700 | $16,250 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Cookeville, TN
- Student Body
- 8,698 students
- Admission Rate
- 76%
- Graduation Rate
- 56%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $14,246
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $48,501
- Median Student Debt
- $15,650