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Computer Science at Tennessee State University

Nashville, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
73 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
74
Optimistic
73
Base Case
66
Pessimistic
Earnings $50,628/yr (-31% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (72% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (295,800 openings/yr)
ROI 17.4x earnings multiple (6.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #220 of 345 Computer Science programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Computer Science graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $605K $595K $522K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.7x 17.4x 15.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.8x 6.7x 5.9x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 73% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 74 73 66

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$34,272
Out-of-state: $89,136 (6.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$40,104
-17% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,500
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,218
21% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $50,628/yr fall 31% below the $73,713 national median for Computer Science. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 17.4x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 72% task exposure — and the 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $17,500 in median debt against $50,628 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #220 out of 345 programs, Tennessee State University's financial outcomes for Computer Science trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $50,628 to $61,218 shows 21% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Tennessee State University

Tennessee State University has a 93% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving 6,498 students in Nashville, TN. 52% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Tennessee State University →

Top Career Paths

Computer and information systems managers $171,200/yr
Computer and information research scientists $140,910/yr
Database architects $135,980/yr
View all 13 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 345 schools offering Computer Science →

Computer Science at Other Schools

California Institute of Technology ($173,344) Carnegie Mellon University ($171,264) Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($154,492) Cornell University ($152,656) Harvard University ($152,251) Brown University ($151,065) University of California-Berkeley ($149,866) Princeton University ($146,624)

Other Majors at Tennessee State University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($65,331) Mechanical Engineering ($58,828) Accounting and Related Services ($53,620) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($48,894) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($40,077) Health and Medical Administrative Services ($38,134) Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($37,716) Political Science and Government ($35,206)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Computer Science trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Tennessee State University's Computer Science program score?
A score of 73/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Tennessee State University trails the majority of Computer Science programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Computer Science to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Computer Science careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 72% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Computer Science earnings lower at Tennessee State University?
Lower starting pay at Tennessee State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →