Engineering-Related Fields at Middle Tennessee State University

Middle Tennessee State's Engineering-Related Fields program delivers something increasingly rare: strong earnings coupled with remarkably low debt. Graduates start at $67,431—landing them at the 60th percentile among Tennessee engineering programs—while carrying just $19,576 in debt. That's about $6,000 less than the state median and nearly $6,000 below the national benchmark. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 means graduates owe roughly three and a half months of salary, making this one of the more financially manageable engineering pathways available.

The earnings trajectory tells a reassuring story, with graduates seeing 11% income growth to reach $74,671 by year four. While starting salaries land just below the national median, they're comfortably above Tennessee's typical $63,858, and they outpace what The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's program delivers. For an institution with a 68% admission rate serving a significant population of Pell Grant recipients, these outcomes represent solid accessibility without sacrificing financial returns.

The combination of below-average debt and above-state-average earnings makes this a financially sensible choice, particularly for Tennessee families watching their budgets. Your child won't graduate with engineering's highest salary, but they'll start their career with breathing room that many engineering graduates—who typically carry $25,000+ in debt—simply don't have.