Tennessee Tech University (Tennessee Technological University) is a public research university in Cookeville, Tennessee, with 10,511 students, 9,187 of them undergraduates, in fall 2024. Its main pros are a strong engineering and STEM focus, a 16 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and R2 research status; its main cons are a remote small-town location, a sharp rise in on-campus costs for 2024-2025 and a four-year graduation rate of 41%.
The sections below set out each pro and con, then the cost, graduation and accreditation figures from the federal College Navigator database, so you can decide whether Tennessee Tech is a good school for you.
Tennessee Tech University at a Glance
- Type: 4-year public university, governed by its own board of trustees.
- Location: Cookeville, Tennessee, in the Upper Cumberland region; the federal campus-setting code is “Town: Remote”.
- History: chartered by the state as Tennessee Polytechnic Institute in 1915, with roots in the University of Dixie; it became Tennessee Technological University in 1965.
- Research status: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity (R2).
- Enrollment (fall 2024): 10,511 total, 9,187 undergraduate, 1,324 graduate.
- Admission: 76% of 11,538 applicants were admitted for fall 2024.
- Athletics: the Golden Eagles compete in NCAA Division I in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Pros: What Tennessee Tech Does Well
- A genuine technology focus. As an institute of technology, Tennessee Tech puts special emphasis on engineering, technology and computer science, and it offers doctoral programs in engineering, education and environmental sciences. Its Center for Manufacturing Research is designated a Center of Excellence by the state of Tennessee.
- Smaller classes than many publics. The student-to-faculty ratio is 16 to 1, lower than many state universities of similar size.
- Most freshmen get grant aid. In 2023-2024, 97% of full-time beginning undergraduates received financial aid and 95% received grants or scholarships, averaging $10,458.
- Research opportunities at an R2 school. Being a high-research-activity doctoral university means undergraduates can find labs and research centers, such as the Center for Energy Systems Research, without competing with thousands of graduate students.
- A lower out-of-state price than before. Out-of-state tuition and fees fell from $20,116 in 2023-2024 to $15,576 in 2024-2025, which makes Tennessee Tech more competitive for students from neighbouring states.
- Active campus life. There are over 200 student organizations, including fraternities and sororities, and Division I athletics.
Cons: What to Weigh Before You Enroll at Tennessee Tech
- A remote setting. Cookeville is classified as a remote town. Internships in big metro areas and city amenities are a drive away, which suits some students and frustrates others.
- Costs rose steeply in 2024-2025. In-state tuition and fees went up 12.8% to $11,376, and on-campus food and housing rose 26.7% to $13,302. The estimated total in-state cost of living on campus reached $31,758.
- Four-year completion is modest. Of full-time freshmen who began a bachelor’s degree in fall 2018, 41% graduated in four years and 58% in six.
- A fifth of students transfer out. The transfer-out rate for the same cohort was 20%, so a noticeable share of students start at Tennessee Tech and finish elsewhere.
- Mostly in-state peers. 94% of first-time undergraduates are Tennessee residents, so out-of-state students should expect a strongly regional student body.
What Tennessee Tech Costs: Tuition, Housing and Net Price
| Item (2024-2025 unless noted) | Amount |
|---|---|
| In-state tuition and fees | $11,376 |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $15,576 |
| On-campus food and housing | $13,302 |
| Total in-state cost, living on campus | $31,758 |
| Total out-of-state cost, living on campus | $35,958 |
| Average net price (2023-2024) | $15,336 |
The average net price, which is the cost after grants for full-time beginning students, was $15,336 in 2023-2024. It ranged from $9,815 for families earning up to $30,000 to $18,936 for families earning over $110,000. Because the 2024-2025 housing increase came after those figures, run the university’s net price calculator for a current estimate.
Is Tennessee Tech University a Good School? What the Numbers Say
For a student who wants engineering, computer science or another STEM degree at a public price, Tennessee Tech is a good school. It is an R2 research university with a 16 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio, and 78% of full-time freshmen who started in fall 2023 returned in fall 2024.
The trade-offs are completion speed and cost trend. The overall graduation rate for the fall 2018 cohort was 58%, and the jump in housing costs makes living on campus considerably more expensive than it was two years ago. Median ACT composite for enrolled freshmen was 23, which gives a sense of the academic profile.
Who Accredits Tennessee Tech University?
Tennessee Tech is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), with accreditation dating from 1939. College Navigator lists its next review for 2026. Many individual programs, including engineering, nursing and business, carry their own programmatic accreditation, which you can check on the university’s College Navigator profile.
Who Tennessee Tech Suits, and Who Should Look Elsewhere
A good fit for: Tennessee residents and students from nearby states who want engineering, technology or computer science; students who prefer smaller classes; and students comfortable in a quiet small town.
Worth comparing alternatives if: you want a large-city campus, you need the lowest possible housing cost, or you plan to finish in four years and want a school with a higher on-time graduation rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Tennessee Tech hard to get into? It admitted 76% of applicants for fall 2024.
- Is Tennessee Tech a research university? Yes. It is classified as an R2 doctoral university with high research activity.
- What is Tennessee Tech’s mascot? Its teams are the Golden Eagles, and the mascot is Awesome Eagle.
- Is Tennessee Tech the same as Texas Tech? No. Tennessee Tech is in Cookeville, Tennessee, and is a separate, smaller university.