Tennessee State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Tennessee State University charges a net price of $15,796/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $63,184. Median earnings ten years after entry are $42,730, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Tennessee State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #34 of 91 Tennessee colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $15,796/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $63,184 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $42,730 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$5,630/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $27,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$175,784 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Tennessee State University's own numbers. Net price $15,796 × 4 years = $63,184 total. Median earnings $42,730 fall $5,630 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $63,184 bill in about 6.3 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Tennessee State University students graduate with?
A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 63% of the $42,730 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Tennessee State University students graduate?
34% finish their degree — 66% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $63,184 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $185,835 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Tennessee State University expensive compared with other Tennessee colleges?
Its $15,796 net price runs $527 above the $15,269 median across the 91 Tennessee colleges we profile, or $2,108 more across the full degree.