Head-to-head comparison
Tennessee Technological University vs Maryville College: which has better ROI?
Option A Cookeville, TN
Tennessee Technological University
- Net price / year
- $14,246
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,501
- Payback
- 404.1 yrs
Option B Maryville, TN
Maryville College
- Net price / year
- $19,360
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,279
- Payback
- 84.3 yrs
Maryville College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $77,440 in 84.3 years versus 404.1 years at Tennessee Technological University, on median earnings of $49,279 vs $48,501 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tennessee Technological University | Maryville College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,246 | $19,360 |
| Total net cost | $56,984 | $77,440 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,501 | $49,279 |
| Median debt | $15,650 | $25,375 |
| Payback | 404.1 yrs | 84.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$54,164 | -$59,060 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Tennessee Technological University or Maryville College?
Tennessee Technological University, at $14,246 a year after aid versus $19,360 — a gap of $5,114 a year, or $20,456 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 Tennessee Technological University or Maryville College graduates earn more?
Maryville College graduates report a median $49,279 ten years after entry, $778 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, Tennessee Technological University or Maryville College?
Tennessee Technological University: its completers carry a median $15,650 in federal loans versus $25,375 at Maryville College, a difference of $9,725. 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 50% at Maryville College. 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.