Head-to-head comparison
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville vs Middle Tennessee State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Knoxville, TN
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
- Net price / year
- $18,976
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,249
- Payback
- 6.4 yrs
Option B Murfreesboro, TN
Middle Tennessee State University
- Net price / year
- $13,359
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,541
- Payback
- 295.2 yrs
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $75,904 in 6.4 years versus 295.2 years at Middle Tennessee State University, on median earnings of $60,249 vs $48,541 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | Middle Tennessee State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,976 | $13,359 |
| Total net cost | $75,904 | $53,436 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,249 | $48,541 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $20,000 |
| Payback | 6.4 yrs | 295.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $161,876 | -$49,816 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville or Middle Tennessee State University?
Middle Tennessee State University, at $13,359 a year after aid versus $18,976 — a gap of $5,617 a year, or $22,468 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 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville or Middle Tennessee State University graduates earn more?
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville graduates report a median $60,249 ten years after entry, $11,708 more than the $48,541 at Middle Tennessee State 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, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville or Middle Tennessee State University?
Middle Tennessee State University: its completers carry a median $20,000 in federal loans versus $20,500 at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, a difference of $500. 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?
74% of students finish at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, 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.