Head-to-head comparison
Middle Tennessee State University vs Tennessee Technological University: which has better ROI?
Option A Murfreesboro, TN
Middle Tennessee State University
- Net price / year
- $13,359
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,541
- Payback
- 295.2 yrs
Option B Cookeville, TN
Tennessee Technological University
- Net price / year
- $14,246
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,501
- Payback
- 404.1 yrs
Middle Tennessee State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $53,436 in 295.2 years versus 404.1 years at Tennessee Technological University, on median earnings of $48,541 vs $48,501 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Middle Tennessee State University | Tennessee Technological University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,359 | $14,246 |
| Total net cost | $53,436 | $56,984 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,541 | $48,501 |
| Median debt | $20,000 | $15,650 |
| Payback | 295.2 yrs | 404.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$49,816 | -$54,164 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Middle Tennessee State University or Tennessee Technological University?
Middle Tennessee State University, at $13,359 a year after aid versus $14,246 — a gap of $887 a year, or $3,548 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Middle Tennessee State University or Tennessee Technological University graduates earn more?
Middle Tennessee State University graduates report a median $48,541 ten years after entry, $40 more than the $48,501 at Tennessee Technological University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Middle Tennessee State University or Tennessee Technological University?
Tennessee Technological University: its completers carry a median $15,650 in federal loans versus $20,000 at Middle Tennessee State University, a difference of $4,350. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
58% of students finish at Tennessee Technological University, against 54% at Middle Tennessee State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.