Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks The University of Tennessee Southern #1165 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,271 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing The University of Tennessee Southern in the 31.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks The University of Tennessee Southern #1309 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks The University of Tennessee Southern #1165 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 21.4 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Pulaski, TN, University of Tennessee Southern enrolls roughly 864 undergraduates. Retention is 77.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 36.9%, placing the institution in the middle range nationally for converting enrollment into degree completion. Where The University of Tennessee Southern performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks The University of Tennessee Southern #1309 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 11.6 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $46,181, placing The University of Tennessee Southern in the 3.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's dominant program family is Business, which aligns with strong regional labor-market demand and contributes to solid early-career outcomes for graduates. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. The University of Tennessee Southern enrolls 36.3% Pell-eligible students and 41.0% first-generation college students, reflecting a broad-access mission. The institution sits in the 24.8 percentile for access and the 81.5 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mobility outcomes rank in the 16.8 percentile, indicating that while the institution serves a cost-conscious student population, long-term earnings trajectories for low-income graduates remain competitive with peer institutions.
The University of Tennessee Southern's published cost of attendance is $24,750. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that sticker price: low-income families pay approximately $9,335, middle-income families pay around $15,343, and higher-income families pay approximately $17,135. Azimuth ranks The University of Tennessee Southern #264 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. The University of Tennessee Southern participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside state and institutional aid. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid awards. The gap between published cost and net price reflects the institution's commitment to making attendance affordable across income levels through grants and scholarships that do not require repayment. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,767; 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 $46,181, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 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 Southern is a strong fit for students seeking a public regional university experience in TN, particularly those interested in Business and related applied fields. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $46,181, placing The University of Tennessee Southern in the 3.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $6,271 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 31.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university serves a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 36.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 41.0% are first-generation. Published cost of attendance is $17,135, with median federal student debt at graduation of $21,500. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 86.7% admit rate makes the application process moderately selective, and the program mix favors business and related applied fields over research-oriented disciplines. Students whose interests align with these areas will find solid earnings outcomes 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
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the The University Of Tennessee Southern hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Business Administration, Management and Operations
42 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
7 graduates
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
11 graduates
The University of Tennessee Southern's program mix is anchored in business and applied professional fields, reflecting the institution's regional mission as a comprehensive public university. Business Administration is the largest program with 42 graduates, followed by Behavioral Sciences, Kinesiology, Biology, General, and General Studies.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 107 students annually, the institution concentrates its degree output in Business (representing 36% of graduates), Education (representing 6%), and other STEM fields (representing 79%). The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied business and professional fields.
Business Administration leads with median 4-year earnings of $59,648 across 42 graduates, followed by Nursing with earnings of $45,980 and Kinesiology with earnings of $39,192. These programs reflect direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings capture meaningful labor-market outcomes.
Business Administration, the institution's largest program, delivers median 4-year earnings of $59,648, while Kinesiology and Biology, General earn $39,192 and comparable levels respectively. The program portfolio reflects The University of Tennessee Southern's positioning as a regional comprehensive university serving Tennessee's workforce needs.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's dominant program families in Business and Education align with regional labor-market demand and wage trends.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Maine At Presque Isle Similar quality tier (#32771 ranked) | ME | 100% | $40,956 | #32771 | Compare |
West Liberty University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#32770 ranked) | WV | 97% | $43,296 | #32770 | Compare |
The University Of Montana-Western Similar quality tier (#33878 ranked) | MT | 100% | $43,229 | #33878 | Compare |
Northern State University Similar quality tier (#33886 ranked) | SD | 93% | $47,618 | #33886 | Compare |
University Of Alaska Southeast Similar quality tier (#32725 ranked) | AK | 63% | $48,475 | #32725 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
The University of Tennessee Southern's published cost of attendance is $24,750. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that sticker price: low-income families pay approximately $9,335, middle-income families pay around $15,343, and higher-income families pay approximately $17,135.
Azimuth ranks The University of Tennessee Southern #264 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.
The University of Tennessee Southern participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside state and institutional aid. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid awards.
The gap between published cost and net price reflects the institution's commitment to making attendance affordable across income levels through grants and scholarships that do not require repayment. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,767; 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 $46,181, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 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 Southern earn median 4-year earnings of $46,181, placing the institution in the 3.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,271 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing The University of Tennessee Southern in the 31.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks The University of Tennessee Southern #1309 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects The University of Tennessee Southern's concentration in Business.
Business Administration is the largest program with 42 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $59,648, representing 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. Behavioral Sciences and Kinesiology also anchor the institution's degree output, with Kinesiology graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $39,192 — 0.7x the national benchmark.
Additional programs including Biology, General and General Studies round out the portfolio, contributing to the institution's overall earnings profile.
