Management Information Systems and Services at The University of Tennessee Southern

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 suggests graduates earning around $60,000 could manage their $23,000 in student loans—requiring roughly four to five months of pre-tax income to cover the debt burden. That's a manageable position for a technology-focused business degree. However, these figures come from national benchmarks across similar MIS programs, not UT Southern's actual graduate outcomes, which the Department of Education cannot publish due to small sample sizes.

The gap between national and Tennessee medians is worth noting: similar MIS programs nationally produce first-year earnings near $59,500, while Tennessee programs typically start closer to $50,000. That $9,000 difference matters significantly when you're repaying loans. Even top Tennessee programs like University of Memphis and Middle Tennessee State report earnings in the $48,000-$52,000 range, suggesting the state's tech job market may not match national compensation levels. Whether UT Southern's graduates land closer to state or national norms remains unclear without school-specific data.

For families comfortable with uncertainty, the fundamentals look reasonable—MIS degrees generally lead to in-demand technical skills, and the estimated debt load isn't crushing even at Tennessee's lower salary levels. But you're essentially betting on a program without verified graduate outcomes, in a state where peer programs underperform the national average by 15-20%. If possible, contact the university directly for placement rates and typical employer partnerships before committing.