Family and Consumer Economics at Middle Tennessee State University

At just under $32,000 in first-year earnings, Middle Tennessee State's Family and Consumer Economics program lands in the bottom 5th percentile nationally—a significant gap from the $40,141 national median. However, this context matters: among Tennessee's four programs in this field, MTSU sits right at the middle of the pack (40th percentile), with only UT-Knoxville substantially outperforming it. The $26,000 debt load is reasonable and matches the state median, resulting in a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.81.

The challenge here isn't crushing debt—it's the absolute earnings level. Starting below $32,000 makes those loan payments feel heavier than the ratio suggests, and the modest 5% growth over four years offers little relief. Tennessee State's graduates earn nearly the same despite being a less selective institution, which raises questions about MTSU's specific career placement outcomes in this field. The moderate sample size gives some confidence in the data, but the program's value proposition depends heavily on your child's specific career goals within consumer economics and whether they have clear connections to employers who value this credential at higher salary levels.