Tennessee Technological University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Cookeville, Tennessee. It enrolls 8,698 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
72/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes53
Value72
Affordability61
Selectivity49
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 76.1%, Tennessee Technological University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
76.1%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1048 – 1310
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
20 – 27
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Tennessee Technological University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
4.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Tennessee Technological University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $14,246 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,246
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
31%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
33%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$11,376
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$15,576
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,302
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,144
Books & Supplies
$1,280
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,800
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,800
Total Cost of Attendance
$25,663
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$9,815
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,445
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,861
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,245
Over $110,000
$18,936
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,98510%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$15,650Medianpercentile
$20,28075%percentile
$28,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $12,250
↓ $3,400
No Pell $10,000
↓ $5,650
Dependent students $11,000
↓ $4,650
Independent students $12,500
↓ $3,150
Female students $11,565
↓ $4,085
Male students $10,750
↓ $4,900
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($15,650), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
56% of full-time students who enrolled at Tennessee Technological University graduate within six years, and 78% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
56%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
78%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Tennessee Technological University earn a median of $48,501 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$48,501
Earning > $25K
80%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$38,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$54,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$43,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$46,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$50,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $16,200, about 30% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
11.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 83% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Tennessee Technological University is home to 8,698 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 38% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
8,698
Part-Time
7%
First-Generation
38%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 79.6%6,925
Hispanic 6.0%524
Black 4.2%367
Other 3.6%316
Asian 2.5%213
International 1.8%160
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Tennessee Technological University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteCookeville, Tennessee
Housing
Partly residential2,509 beds available
Adult Learners
7%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Tennessee Technological University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
78 distinct programs across
23 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Tennessee Technological University is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$10,518
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$95M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$81,848
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
441 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
127
29%
$104,679
Associate Professors
104
24%
$83,140
Assistant Professors
94
21%
$80,103
Instructors
33
7%
$54,405
Lecturers
82
19%
$58,328
No Rank
1
0%
$46,350
Pros & Cons of Tennessee Technological University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Tennessee Technological University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
CONS
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Tennessee Technological University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tennessee Technological University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Tennessee Technological University.
Is Tennessee Technological University hard to get into?
Tennessee Technological University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 76.1%.
What is the acceptance rate at Tennessee Technological University?
Tennessee Technological University has an acceptance rate of 76.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Tennessee Technological University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Tennessee Technological University scored between 1048 and 1310 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Tennessee Technological University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Tennessee Technological University scored between 20 and 27 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Tennessee Technological University cost?
The average net price after aid at Tennessee Technological University is $14,246 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Tennessee Technological University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $48,501 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,246 per year. That's roughly 3.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Tennessee Technological University known for?
Tennessee Technological University is best known for its programs in Teacher Education (K-12), Curriculum & Instruction, Computer Science. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Tennessee Technological University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Tennessee Technological University are $48,501, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Tennessee Technological University accredited?
Yes. Tennessee Technological University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Tennessee Technological University?
Tennessee Technological University enrolls 8,698 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Tennessee Technological University?
Tennessee Technological University graduates 56% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Tennessee Technological University a public or private college?
Tennessee Technological University is a Public institution.
Where is Tennessee Technological University located?
Tennessee Technological University is located in Cookeville, Tennessee.
What programs does Tennessee Technological University offer?
Tennessee Technological University offers 78 distinct programs. The most popular include Teacher Education (K-12), Curriculum & Instruction, Computer Science.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Tennessee Technological University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Tennessee Technological University is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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