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CollegeRanker
Private nonprofit Milligan, TN · Suburban · Southeast · 100% data
C+ Earnings C+ Selectivity C+ Graduation
Graduation Rate
62% C+
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$46,641 C+
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$21,365 D+
25% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
72% C+
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +14% vs avg
Graduation +8% vs avg
Net Price 25% vs avg
Mobility Top 79%

Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 11.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $11.9 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Best Engineering Colleges in Tennessee.

11.9× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $11.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $930,776.

What The Data Says

  1. A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Every $1 invested returns $11.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Milligan University Matters

Milligan University is a private university in Milligan, TN and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private University
Carnegie Class
Master's University
Enrollment
818
Setting
Suburban
Designations
48
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Engineering, Psychology

Why students choose Milligan University

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Strength in Business & Marketing
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C-
Top 56% overall
C+
Earnings
$46,641 median
C-
Value
2.2× net price
D+
Affordability
$21,365/yr net
C+
Graduation
62% graduate
D
Social Mobility
1.0% climb Q1→Q5
C+
Selectivity
72% admit rate
D+
Diversity
0.47 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of 818 students, Milligan University offers a close-knit community for those seeking a well-rounded education. It's particularly suited for individuals interested in programs like Business & Marketing, Engineering, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT, and Education. The acceptance rate of 72% means there's a fair chance for students who are dedicated to their studies and want to be part of this welcoming environment.

After graduation, students find themselves in a promising position. The average earnings for Milligan graduates ten years post-degree stand at $46,641, indicating that the education received here can lead to a stable financial future. For many, this means a strong return on investment, especially when considering the affordability of the programs offered.

Speaking of finances, the net price after financial aid is approximately $21,365, while the median debt sits at $25,219. This combination suggests that students can manage their financial responsibilities without being overwhelmed. Those who thrive here often value a supportive atmosphere and are motivated to engage deeply with their chosen fields, making the most of the resources and opportunities available.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Milligan University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Milligan University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Milligan, Tennessee, Milligan University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 72%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,189. The graduation rate is roughly 62%.

Acceptance Rate
72%
Retention Rate
82%
SAT Average
1189
ACT Midpoint
25
SAT Range
1133–1268
ACT Range
22–27
Full-Time Faculty
68%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$6,980
Diversity Index
0.47
First-Gen Students
32%
Applicants
844
Admitted
563

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Milligan University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Milligan University is $40,450, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $21,365. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,118 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,219 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$40,450
Out-of-State
$40,450
Avg Net Price
$21,365
Median Debt
$25,219
Pell Grant Rate
24%
Federal Loan Rate
45%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$15,118
Family Income $30K–$48K
$14,635
Family Income $48K–$75K
$16,351
Family Income $110K+
$26,390

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Milligan University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Milligan University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Milligan University earn a median of $46,641, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$43,168
8 Years
$48,278
10 Years
$46,641
Debt-to-Earnings
0.54x
Earning > $25K
65%

Earnings Trajectory

$43,168 6yr $48,278 8yr $46,641 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (110)
61%
100% (110)
61%
100% (110)
61%
100% (110)
61%

How Milligan Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation62%Earnings 10yr$47KNet Price$21KRetention82%Median Debt$25KPell Grant Rate24%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$15K$0-30K$15K$30-48K$16K$48-75K$26K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%5.4%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%17.8%MOBILITY0.96%

College ROI Calculator

Is Milligan University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Milligan University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $21,365/year ($85,460 total). Graduates earn $46,641 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,016,236 in total earnings — a net gain of $930,776 (11.9× your investment). The median debt is $25,219, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 62% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$85,460
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,016,236
Net Return
$930,776
ROI Multiple
11.9×
Cost Per Year
$21,365
Median Debt
$25,219
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
62%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Milligan University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Milligan University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.96%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 17.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $85,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
0.96%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
17.8%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
5.4%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$116,708
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Milligan University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Milligan University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.52, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.52
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.02
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
6.5%
Support Ratio
1.00
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Top Programs

The fields Milligan University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Milligan University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Milligan, Tennessee, Milligan University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 72%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,189. The graduation rate is roughly 62%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Milligan University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Milligan University is $40,450, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $21,365. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,118 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,219 in federal student loans.

Is Milligan University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Milligan University earn a median of $46,641, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does Milligan University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Milligan University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.96%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 17.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $85,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Milligan University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Milligan University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.52, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys