Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Milligan University #1313 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,652 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Milligan University in the 24.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Milligan University #1065 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Milligan University's composite ranking reflects strong financial outcomes for graduates, with earnings that consistently outperform expectations compared with similar students at peer institutions. The university's return on investment ranking places it among the top-performing private four-year institutions nationally.
Azimuth ranks Milligan University #1313 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Milligan, TN, Milligan University enrolls roughly 818 undergraduates. Retention is 81.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 63.4%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Where Milligan University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Milligan University #1065 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,652 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Milligan University in the 24.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's strength in Business and related fields that connect directly to stable career pathways and solid long-term financial outcomes. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Milligan University sits in the 10.5 percentile for access and the 35.2 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls 24.0% Pell-eligible students and 31.9% first-generation college students, reflecting a more selective admissions posture typical of private master's universities. Mobility outcomes — how well low-income and first-generation graduates fare in the labor market — sit in the 24.3 percentile, indicating room for strengthening support for students from less-resourced backgrounds as they transition to careers.
Milligan University's published cost of attendance is $52,511. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $15,118, middle-income families pay around $16,351, and higher-income families pay approximately $26,390. Azimuth ranks Milligan University #924 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Milligan University participates in federal need-based aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The institution's aid structure combines need-based scholarships with loans and work-study to close the gap between sticker price and what families pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,219, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $36,972; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $55,216, median federal debt of $25,219 projects to a monthly payment of about $285 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Milligan University is a strong fit for students interested in Business and related fields who want a private nonprofit university experience in TN, South. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $55,216, placing Milligan University in the 30.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $8,652 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 24.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 24.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 31.9% are first-generation — and delivers outcomes that place Milligan University in the 50.2 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 72.3% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business and related fields. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find meaningful returns relative to TN's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $31,130.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Milligan University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Milligan University's published cost of attendance is $52,511. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $15,118, middle-income families pay around $16,351, and higher-income families pay approximately $26,390.
Azimuth ranks Milligan University #924 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Milligan University participates in federal need-based aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
The institution's aid structure combines need-based scholarships with loans and work-study to close the gap between sticker price and what families pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,219, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $36,972; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $55,216, median federal debt of $25,219 projects to a monthly payment of about $285 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Milligan University earn median 4-year earnings of $55,216, placing Milligan University in the 30.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,652 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Milligan University in the 24.3 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Milligan University #1065 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Milligan University's concentration in business and professional fields.
Psychology, General is the largest program with 27 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $46,990, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Business Administration program graduates 24 students earning $59,605, while Kinesiology with 20 graduates reaches $55,866.
These programs anchor Milligan University's earnings profile and align with the institution's dominant focus on Business education, positioning graduates for stable career pathways and long-term financial outcomes.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Susquehanna University Similar quality tier (#36028 ranked) | PA | 81% | $61,723 | #36028 | Compare |
Ursinus College Similar quality tier (#36030 ranked) | PA | 92% | $73,721 | #36030 | Compare |
Saint Vincent College Similar quality tier (#36031 ranked) | PA | 62% | $59,982 | #36031 | Compare |
Messiah University Similar quality tier (#36022 ranked) | PA | 79% | $54,064 | #36022 | Compare |
Hollins University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#36021 ranked) | VA | 68% | $40,075 | #36021 | Compare |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
15 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
24 graduates
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
20 graduates
Psychology, General
27 graduates
Communication and Media Studies
10 graduates
Milligan University's program mix is anchored in Business and applied professional fields. Psychology, General is the largest program with 27 graduates annually, followed by Business Administration, Kinesiology, Teacher Education, and Nursing.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 156 students annually, the institution emphasizes career-ready preparation in business, education, and health-related fields. The earnings pattern reflects strength in applied professional pathways.
Nursing leads with median earnings of $82,961 four years after enrollment, followed by Business Administration at $59,605, Kinesiology at $55,866, Psychology, General at $46,990, and Communication and Media Studies at $44,175. The concentration of graduates in Psychology, General and Business Administration combined with solid earnings outcomes across these fields reflects Milligan University's positioning as a regional private institution focused on workforce readiness.
Several of these programs represent high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect regional labor-market outcomes in professional and business sectors. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Milligan University's dominant program families align with labor-market demand in the Southeast.
