Tennessee Technological University
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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
- Business & Marketing, Engineering, Education, Health Professions
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
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 keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 76% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,151. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 56%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending Tennessee Technological University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $15,576 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $14,246 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,815 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $15,650.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
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 national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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%?
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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
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.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Tennessee Technological University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Tennessee Technological University's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
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 keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 76% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,151. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 56%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Tennessee Technological University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Tennessee Technological University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $15,576 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $14,246 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,815 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $15,650.
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 national averages for 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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.43 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely 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.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.43 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.