Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences at Tennessee Technological University

Tennessee Tech's Family and Consumer Sciences program starts modestly but demonstrates something promising: graduates see their earnings jump 32% by year four, reaching $38,326. That's notable growth in a field where career trajectories can plateau early. While the $29,114 starting salary lands in the 25th percentile nationally, it's right at the Tennessee median of $29,201, meaning students aren't being disadvantaged compared to in-state alternatives.

The debt picture looks manageable. At $20,975, graduates owe about $3,000 less than the national median and roughly $3,000 less than Tennessee's typical burden for this major. That 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio means the loan is less than one year's starting salary—tight but workable. The University of Tennessee-Martin's similar program shows nearly identical starting earnings ($29,288), suggesting this is the realistic entry point for the field in Tennessee rather than a program-specific weakness.

The real question is whether that year-four salary trajectory continues upward or flattens out. If the growth persists, this becomes a solid middle-class pathway. If it stalls, graduates face mediocre long-term earnings. For families committed to this field and staying in Tennessee, the lower-than-average debt and upward momentum make this a reasonable choice—just understand you're trading a stronger starting salary for the possibility of steady advancement.