Computer Science at Tennessee State University

Tennessee State graduates start their computer science careers earning about $50,600—roughly $20,000 less than the national median and $9,000 below Tennessee's state median. Among Tennessee's 22 CS programs, this ranks in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of in-state alternatives deliver stronger initial outcomes. The gap is even starker compared to UT-Knoxville ($70,193) or Tennessee Tech ($63,180), both public universities with likely similar tuition costs for Tennessee residents.

The positive news is manageable debt. At $27,724, graduates aren't drowning—they're borrowing slightly more than the Tennessee median but securing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55, which allows for reasonable repayment. The moderate sample size suggests these numbers are reliable, and earnings do grow 13% by year four, though that still leaves graduates at $57,000, well below what peers from other Tennessee programs achieve right out of school.

For families weighing this program, the question is whether Tennessee State's accessible admissions (93% acceptance rate) and strong Pell Grant representation justify accepting significantly lower earnings potential. If your child has options at UT-Knoxville or Tennessee Tech, the data suggests those programs deliver substantially better returns. TSU serves its mission of access well, but for computer science specifically, the earnings gap is too large to ignore when comparing in-state public alternatives.