Education at Tusculum University

Tusculum University's Education program sits squarely in the middle of Tennessee's education landscape—ranking at the 60th percentile statewide while matching the state's median earnings of $36,540. The $25,832 debt load translates to a manageable 0.71 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates need less than nine months of gross income to cover their student loans. For a program serving a predominantly working-class student body (45% receive Pell grants), this represents accessible teacher preparation without crushing debt.

The program does trail the national median by about $2,100 annually, landing at the 39th percentile nationwide. However, this gap matters less than it appears—Tennessee's lower cost of living and teaching salaries make state-level comparisons more relevant for most graduates who'll teach locally. The debt burden is also slightly below both state and national averages, which helps offset the modest earnings.

For families committed to teaching careers in Tennessee, Tusculum offers a straightforward value: predictable outcomes at reasonable cost. The numbers won't impress anyone, but they won't derail a graduate's financial future either. This is particularly important in education, where passion often matters more than peak earnings, and where reasonable debt makes the difference between sustainable employment and career-switching stress.