Tennessee Technological University
#1 Best Education Colleges in Tennessee- Graduation Rate
- 56% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $48,501 B-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $14,246 C+
- 17% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 76% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 19.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.1 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Education Colleges in Tennessee.
Every $1 spent returns $19.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,033,497.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Social mobility rate of 2.30% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $19.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.6%
- Top 38%
- Patents
- 37
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 23
- Downstream influence
Why Tennessee Technological University Matters
Tennessee Technological University is a public research university in Cookeville, TN and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. 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
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 8,698
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Engineering, Business & Marketing, Education, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Tennessee Technological University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 76% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1048–1310. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $14,246 a year after grants and scholarships — 17% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $48,501 ten years after enrolling — 19% above the typical college, against $15,650 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 21% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.43 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Tennessee Technological University is a solid choice for students who are looking for a practical education with a hands-on approach. With an acceptance rate of 76%, it welcomes a diverse group of learners. Here, students often dive into popular fields like Business & Marketing, Engineering, Education, Health Professions, and Computer Science & IT. This variety allows individuals to explore their interests while preparing for real-world challenges.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $48,501 within ten years. That’s a decent start, especially considering the accessible nature of the programs. Many graduates find their way into stable careers, and while specific mobility rates aren't available, the overall trajectory suggests that those who invest in their education here are likely to see positive outcomes in their professional lives. Affordability plays a role too, with many students benefiting from financial aid, making it easier to focus on their studies without overwhelming debt.
In terms of finances, the net price for attending Tennessee Tech after aid is about $14,246, which is manageable for many families. Graduates typically carry a median debt of $15,650, which is relatively low compared to some other institutions. Students who thrive here are often those who are motivated and ready to engage with their studies, taking advantage of the practical opportunities available in their chosen fields.
Rankings
- #1 Best Education Colleges in Tennessee
- #2 Best Engineering Colleges in Tennessee
- #3 Best Online Colleges in Tennessee
- #3 Best Computer Science Colleges in Tennessee
- #3 Best Data Science Colleges in Tennessee
- #5 Best Colleges in Tennessee
- #6 Best Bachelor's Programs in Tennessee
- #6 Best Master's Programs in Tennessee
Can I Get In?
How selective Tennessee Technological University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Tennessee Technological University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Cookeville, Tennessee, Tennessee Technological University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 76%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,151. The graduation rate is roughly 56%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Retention Rate
- 78%
- SAT Average
- 1151
- SAT Range
- 1048–1310
- ACT Range
- 20–27
- Full-Time Faculty
- 76%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,427
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.36
- First-Gen Students
- 38%
- Applicants
- 7,229
- Admitted
- 5,646
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 Tennessee Technological University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Tennessee Technological University is $15,576, 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 $14,246. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,815 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $15,650 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $11,376
- Out-of-State
- $15,576
- Avg Net Price
- $14,246
- Median Debt
- $15,650
- Pell Grant Rate
- 31%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 33%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,815
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,445
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $13,861
- Family Income $110K+
- $18,936
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 Tennessee Technological University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Tennessee Technological University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Tennessee Technological University earn a median of $48,501, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $43,759
- 8 Years
- $46,379
- 10 Years
- $48,501
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.32x
- Earning > $25K
- 65%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (649)
- 35%
- 100% (649)
- 35%
- 100% (649)
- 35%
- 100% (649)
- 35%
How Tennessee Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Tennessee Technological University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Tennessee Technological University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,246/year ($56,984 total). Graduates earn $48,501 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,090,481 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,033,497 (19.1× your investment). The median debt is $15,650, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 56% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $56,984
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,090,481
- Net Return
- $1,033,497
- ROI Multiple
- 19.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $14,246
- Median Debt
- $15,650
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 56%
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 Tennessee Technological University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Tennessee Technological University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.30%, among the highest in the country. About 9.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 24.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $78,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.30%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 24.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 9.5%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $106,518
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Tennessee Technological University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 37 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.60%
- Top 38% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 37
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 23
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.35%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $58,952
Top Programs
The fields Tennessee Technological 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.
- Engineering 18% $83,525 early-career
- Business & Marketing 14% $47,206 early-career
- Education 9% $41,488 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 8% $70,921 early-career
- Health Professions 7% $61,675 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 5% $28,711 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 4% $29,935 early-career
- Social Sciences 4% $33,753 early-career
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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Tennessee Technological University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Tennessee Technological University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Cookeville, Tennessee, Tennessee Technological University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 76%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,151. The graduation rate is roughly 56%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Tennessee Technological University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Tennessee Technological University is $15,576, 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 $14,246. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,815 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $15,650 in federal student loans.
Is Tennessee Technological University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Tennessee Technological University earn a median of $48,501, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Tennessee Technological University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Tennessee Technological University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.30%, among the highest in the country. About 9.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 24.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $78,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Tennessee Technological 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 Tennessee Technological University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.43, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Tennessee Technological University.
- University of South AlabamaMobile, AL · Close peer53% grad $49,379 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Prairie View A & M UniversityPrairie View, TX · Close peer43% grad $45,411 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN · Close peer52% grad $51,151 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Arkansas State UniversityJonesboro, AR · Close peer55% grad $42,617 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale, IL · Close peer59% grad $53,390 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Morgan State UniversityBaltimore, MD · Close peer41% grad $50,698 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Tennessee Technological 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 Tennessee Technological University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.43, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note