Location: Cookeville, TN•In-State Tuition: $10,084•Out-of-State Tuition: $20,116•Admission Rate: 83%•Avg SAT: 1148
Median Earnings (1yr)
$34,105
41st percentile
40th percentile in Tennessee
Est. Median Debt
$23,250
Est. from TN median (7 programs)
Sample: 20 graduates Limited data

Where Tennessee Technological University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all political science and government bachelors's programs nationally

Tennessee Technological University (estimated ±10%)Other political science and government programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Tennessee Technological University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Tennessee Technological University earns $34k — 41th percentile among political science and government bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Tennessee Technological University$34,105$37,013+9%
Vanderbilt University$46,843$72,701+55%
The University of the South$31,831$65,002+104%
Rhodes College$35,537$63,885+80%
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville$29,728$47,707+60%

Compare to Similar Programs in Tennessee

Political Science and Government bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Tennessee (28 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Tennessee Technological UniversityCookeville$10,084$34,105$37,013$23,250*—
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville$63,946$46,843$72,701$12,000*0.26
The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaChattanooga$10,144$39,490$46,643$22,150*0.56
East Tennessee State UniversityJohnson City$9,950$37,594$38,197$23,000*0.61
Rhodes CollegeMemphis$54,892$35,537$63,885$26,500*0.75
Tennessee State UniversityNashville$8,568$35,206$42,503$27,000*0.77
National Median—$35,627—$23,500*0.66
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with political science and government graduates

Political Scientists

Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decisionmaking, and ideology. May analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. May conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents.

$139,380/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Economists

Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Environmental Economists

Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Economics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in political science, international affairs, and international relations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

Wind Energy Development Managers

Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects.

Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers

Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Tennessee Technological University, approximately 31% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 20 graduates with reported earnings and 18 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.