Management Information Systems and Services at Tennessee Technological University

MIS programs across Tennessee typically produce first-year earnings around $50,000, but this program's national peer group suggests nearly $60,000—roughly $10,000 above the state median. That differential matters when you're looking at an estimated $23,000 in debt, which translates to a 0.39 debt-to-earnings ratio. For context, similar programs nationally carry about $24,000 in debt, so the financial picture here aligns with what you'd expect from a reasonably priced public university MIS program.

The challenge is that we're working entirely from estimates here—both the earnings and debt figures come from comparable programs elsewhere, not from Tennessee Tech's actual graduates. The two Tennessee schools with reported data (University of Memphis and Middle Tennessee State) show lower earnings in the $48,000-$52,000 range, which could mean Tennessee Tech performs closer to those levels, or that the national benchmark better reflects what tech-focused employers in Nashville and elsewhere are paying. Without actual outcomes data, you're essentially betting that Tennessee Tech's graduates will mirror national rather than state patterns.

Given the uncertainty, focus on what is knowable: MIS is a career-focused degree with clear job market demand, and the estimated debt load is manageable even at the lower Tennessee earnings level. But before committing, push the school for actual placement and salary data from their program—if they're truly hitting that $60,000 mark, they should be willing to share it.