The University of Tennessee Southern
Pulaski, Tennessee · Public · 86.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 16/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
The University of Tennessee Southern scores 16 (Below Benchmark) on the CampusROI scale, a score reflecting three severe structural problems: a 36.9% completion rate, a 48.7-year payback period, and a 62.1% repayment rate. The payback period of 48.7 years means that, on average, the cost of attendance exceeds what graduates can reasonably recover in a working lifetime from this credential. Net price averages $12,798 - low in absolute terms, but not low enough to offset the earnings shortfall. Median debt of $21,500 against $28,200 average earnings creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.762. The Nursing program (10 graduates, B grade, $67,349 year-one) is a bright spot that does not represent the typical student experience. Business Administration (36 graduates, C grade) and Kinesiology (D grade) are the other tracked programs. The school enrolls 864 students in Pulaski, Tennessee.
How The University of Tennessee Southern scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score16/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate36.9% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
- Payback period48.7 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
The University of Tennessee Southern
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,924/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $10,924/yr |
| Average net price | $12,798/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $51,192 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $38,924 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $28,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $228 |
| Estimated payback period | 48.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 36.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 864 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $10,924/year, which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $12,798/year, or roughly $51,192 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $9,335/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $17,135/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,500, which works out to about $228 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($28,200) and comes to 0.76, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $9,335 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,071 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,343 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,336 |
| $110,001+ | $17,135 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $9,335 per year at UT Southern. However, at $28,200 average 6-year earnings and a 36.9% completion rate, the financial risk is severe. Students who complete and earn the credential in a field like nursing have reasonable outcomes; the 63% who do not complete leave with debt and no credential.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $15,343 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $17,336. The 48.7-year payback period means that at virtually any income level, the cost-to-earnings relationship does not make financial sense for the median outcome.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $17,135 - nearly the same as the 75001-110000 bracket, an unusual compression in the top of the aid schedule. The combination of 36.9% completion, $28,200 average 6-year earnings, and a 48.7-year payback describes the outcomes at this price.
Earnings by Major
Top 4 most popular majors at The University of Tennessee Southern with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $59,648 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $45,980 | B |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $39,192 | D |
| Psychology | $38,072 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (10 graduates) earns a B grade: $67,349 year-one with $25,683 in median debt and a ratio of 0.381. The year-four figure of $45,980 is lower than year-one, which is unusual and may reflect a small cohort with variable outcomes. Nursing is by far the best-performing program at UT Southern, and the year-one figure is consistent with Tennessee nursing market wages. The cohort of 10 graduates is very small, limiting the reliability of these estimates.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (36 graduates) earns a C grade: $36,954 year-one and $59,648 year-four with $24,625 median debt and a ratio of 0.666. The year-one figure is modest for a business degree in any market. The four-year jump to $60k is plausible for graduates who secure management roles over time, but the near-term financial constraint from $25k in debt on a $37k salary is real.
Psychology
Psychology earns a C grade: $30,958 year-one and $38,072 year-four with $19,800 median debt and a ratio of 0.64. Scorecard does not report the graduate count for this cohort. The year-four earnings of $38k represent modest growth from a $31k starting point. Psychology graduates in rural Tennessee face limited specialized employment; the Scorecard data captures those who entered the workforce directly rather than pursuing graduate training.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology and Exercise Science (8 graduates) earns a D grade: $28,069 year-one and $39,192 year-four with $23,125 median debt and a ratio of 0.824. The near-term earnings are weak against the debt load; the four-year figure of $39k reflects modest career progression. Kinesiology graduates typically pursue physical therapy, athletic training, or fitness management roles - fields with compressed regional wages in rural Tennessee.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 58.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 62.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 46.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 49.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How The University of Tennessee Southern’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 86.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 470-555 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 435-555 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-24 |
| Enrollment | 864 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 36.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,695 |
At 86.7% admission, the school is largely open access. SAT and ACT ranges (ACT 18-24) indicate a broad academic range. The very low completion rate suggests that either academic preparation gaps, financial constraints, or institutional support factors result in most enrolled students not finishing. Prospective students should ask specifically about persistence and completion rates within their intended program before enrolling.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Tennessee Southern (this school) | 16 | $12,798 | $38,924 |
| Austin Peay State University | 36 | $9,735 | $44,301 |
| East Tennessee State University | 35 | $15,983 | $44,859 |
| Salish Kootenai College | 18 | $7,945 | $32,725 |
| Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | 11 | $14,265 | $37,837 |
| Harris-Stowe State University | 5 | $9,922 | $31,088 |
Who Thrives Here
The University of Tennessee Southern admits 86.7% of applicants and enrolls 864 students. SAT mid-ranges are 470-555 Math and 435-555 Reading; ACT composite 18-24. Pell grant rate of 36.3% reflects a significant low-to-middle income enrollment. The school serves a rural Tennessee regional population with limited access to other four-year options. The 36.9% completion rate is the dominant risk factor: nearly two-thirds of students who enroll do not graduate. Students who complete nursing have markedly better outcomes than the institutional average, but the aggregate data reflects the majority who leave without credentials.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, The University of Tennessee Southern scores 16/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $12,798 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $38,924 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 48.7 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 36.9% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 62.1% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $21,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $28,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
The University of Tennessee Southern: Common Questions
Is The University of Tennessee Southern worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. The University of Tennessee Southern scores 16/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $12,798 a year after aid against $38,924 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 48.7 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does The University of Tennessee Southern cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $12,798 a year, or roughly $51,192 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do The University of Tennessee Southern graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $38,924 ten years after enrolling, at or below the $41,800 median for high-school graduates (NCES, 2022). With little earnings gap to cover the cost, the financial return is hard to make.
How long does it take to pay off The University of Tennessee Southern?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 48.7 years for The University of Tennessee Southern. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do The University of Tennessee Southern graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,500, against average earnings of $28,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at The University of Tennessee Southern?
The six-year graduation rate is 36.9%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.