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Engineering Technology · Engineering Technology Rank #12 of 34

Engineering Technologyat Tennessee Technological University

Graduates earn $59,622/yr in their first year — about 1.0% above the national Engineering Technology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $661K; scenarios range from $600K to $678K depending on AI disruption.

Cookeville, TN Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
63 SOLID
63
Optimistic
60
Pessimistic
Earnings
$59,622
1-year post-graduation
ROI
18.4x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$661K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
43% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Tennessee Technological University

At $59,622/yr, Engineering Technology graduates from Tennessee Technological University land near the $58,810 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Engineering Technology programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Engineering Technology's typical career paths, with 40% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 11% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $22,087 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #12 of 34 Engineering Technology programs, Tennessee Technological University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $59,622 to $78,409 over five years — a 32% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$600K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score60/100
Earnings Multiple14.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$661K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score63/100
Earnings Multiple16.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$678K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score63/100
Earnings Multiple16.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Tennessee Technological University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Engineering Technology graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$79,830/yr
Moderate
2
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
+1.5% 10-yr growth · 5,700 openings/yr
$77,390/yr
Low
3
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
+0.6% 10-yr growth · 8,400 openings/yr
$77,180/yr
Moderate
4
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
+1.1% 10-yr growth · 1,300 openings/yr
$70,760/yr
Moderate
5
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
+1.7% 10-yr growth · 6,300 openings/yr
$64,790/yr
Moderate
6
Civil engineering technologists and technicians
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 5,500 openings/yr
$64,200/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Engineering Technology

How Tennessee Technological University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Bemidji State University
MN · Public
67
DW Score
$86K
1-yr earn
18.8x
ROI
Top score
Miami University-Hamilton
OH · Public
68
DW Score
$69K
1-yr earn
29.7x
ROI
Miami University-Middletown
OH · Public
68
DW Score
$69K
1-yr earn
29.7x
ROI
Kennesaw State University
GA · Public
67
DW Score
$65K
1-yr earn
37.7x
ROI
Northern Illinois University
IL · Public
63
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
15.8x
ROI
Also at Tennessee Technological University

Other top programs at Tennessee Technological University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Tennessee Technological University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Engineering Technology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Engineering Technology trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Engineering Technology at Tennessee Technological University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Engineering Technology at Tennessee Technological University?

A score of 63/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Engineering Technology field.

Will AI replace Engineering Technology careers?

With 40% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $600,113 in decade earnings vs $677,953 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.