Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks The University of Tennessee-Martin #631 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,075 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing The University of Tennessee-Martin in the 32.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks The University of Tennessee-Martin #443 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks The University of Tennessee-Martin #631 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 57.1 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public master's university in Martin, Tennessee, University of Tennessee-Martin enrolls roughly 4,866 undergraduates. Retention stands at 77.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 52.5%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a regional public institution. Where The University of Tennessee-Martin performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks The University of Tennessee-Martin #1235 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 16.6 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $47,898, placing The University of Tennessee-Martin in the 9.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,075 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing The University of Tennessee-Martin in the 32.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio centers on Agriculture, a field that typically delivers strong regional labor-market alignment and stable career pathways. Access and affordability anchor the institution's mission. The University of Tennessee-Martin enrolls 34.4% Pell-eligible students and 39.1% first-generation college students, reflecting a broad-access public institution serving rural Tennessee. Azimuth ranks The University of Tennessee-Martin in the 58.6 percentile for access and the 87.3 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students seeking strong long-term earnings outcomes at a regional public university with genuine affordability and broad access, University of Tennessee-Martin delivers measurable value relative to the no-degree baseline and comparable public institutions in the region.
The University of Tennessee-Martin's cost of attendance is $23,079, but net price varies substantially across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $7,151; middle-income families pay around $11,640; higher-income families pay approximately $15,827. Azimuth ranks The University of Tennessee-Martin #182 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a public land-grant institution, University of Tennessee-Martin emphasizes broad access through federal and state financial aid programs. Need-based aid is available through the FAFSA, and merit scholarships support students across income levels. 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. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,024, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,218; 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 $47,898, median federal debt of $21,024 projects to a monthly payment of about $238 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
The University of Tennessee-Martin is a strong fit for students interested in agriculture and related applied fields who want a public university experience in TN, South. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $47,898, placing The University of Tennessee-Martin in the 9.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,075 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 32.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures track TN's regional labor market and represent meaningful returns relative to the state's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $31,130. The University of Tennessee-Martin enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 34.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 39.1% are first-generation. Published cost of attendance is $15,827, and low-income families pay a net price of approximately $7,151 after need-based aid. The institution's program portfolio is concentrated in Agriculture — students interested in these fields will find strong regional rankings and earnings outcomes.
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 The University Of Tennessee-Martin 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.
The University of Tennessee-Martin's cost of attendance is $23,079, but net price varies substantially across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $7,151; middle-income families pay around $11,640; higher-income families pay approximately $15,827.
Azimuth ranks The University of Tennessee-Martin #182 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a public land-grant institution, University of Tennessee-Martin emphasizes broad access through federal and state financial aid programs.
Need-based aid is available through the FAFSA, and merit scholarships support students across income levels. 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.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,024, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,218; 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 $47,898, median federal debt of $21,024 projects to a monthly payment of about $238 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 the University of Tennessee-Martin earn median 4-year earnings of $47,898, placing The University of Tennessee-Martin in the 9.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,075 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing The University of Tennessee-Martin in the 32.3 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks The University of Tennessee-Martin #1235 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 16.6 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to TN's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $31,130 (the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential).
The earnings pattern reflects the institution's concentration in agriculture and applied sciences. Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies is the largest program with 150 graduates, anchoring The University of Tennessee-Martin's degree output in the Agriculture family.
The Kinesiology program graduates 100 students with median 4-year earnings of $49,817, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. Agriculture, General (graduates 88 students, $47,956 median earnings) and Agricultural Business and Management (graduates 86 students) round out the core program slate.
The Teacher Education program graduates 68 students with $42,481 median 4-year earnings, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark. The institution's program mix supports stable, in-demand career pathways in rural and regional labor markets where The University of Tennessee-Martin maintains strong employer connections.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Arkansas-Fort Smith Similar quality tier (#19145 ranked) | AR | 80% | $41,102 | #19145 | Compare |
Southeast Missouri State University Similar quality tier (#19147 ranked) | MO | 74% | $44,030 | #19147 | Compare |
University Of Wisconsin-River Falls Similar quality tier (#19153 ranked) | WI | 82% | $54,458 | #19153 | Compare |
Angelo State University Similar quality tier (#19154 ranked) | TX | 83% | $50,116 | #19154 | Compare |
University Of South Carolina Aiken Similar quality tier in Southeast (#19157 ranked) | SC | 79% | $45,603 | #19157 | Compare |
Engineering, General
19 graduates
Computer Science
7 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
54 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
38 graduates
Biology, General
36 graduates
The University of Tennessee-Martin's program mix is anchored in agriculture, natural resources, and applied professional fields—a portfolio shaped by the institution's land-grant mission and rural Tennessee location. Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies is the largest program with 150 graduates, followed by Kinesiology with 100 graduates earning median earnings of $49,817, Agriculture, General with 88 graduates earning $47,956, Agricultural Business and Management with 86 graduates, and Teacher Education with 68 graduates earning $42,481.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 1,040 students annually, several deliver solid four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional workforce demand. The highest-earning programs reflect the institution's agricultural and applied-science strengths.
Nursing leads with median earnings of $77,092 four years after enrollment across 54 graduates, followed by Finance with 38 graduates earning $64,840, Biology, General with 36 graduates earning $63,410, Accounting with 44 graduates earning $59,150, and Business Administration with 58 graduates earning $54,552. The program portfolio emphasizes direct workforce entry rather than graduate-school-dependent pathways.
Agriculture, business, engineering technology, and applied health fields dominate the graduate output, with students moving into stable, in-demand roles in production agriculture, agricultural management, construction, and technical trades. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these fields align with regional labor-market conditions and long-term career stability in rural and small-metro Tennessee markets.
