Tennessee Tech University has been listed as one of America’s top 500 colleges according to Forbes.
Tennessee Tech was ranked at 447 and was in the top two of public universities within the state to make the list. Tennessee Tech Public Relations Director Jonathan Frank said the recognition is one of several honors that the university has received over the past several months.
“It’s not just Forbes, it’s U.S. News from World Report, it’s Money Magazine, it’s Smart Asset,” Frank said. “So there’s really been a steady drumbeat of one national publication after the other recognizing Tennessee Tech for delivering a high-quality, high-value education to our students.”
Frank said Forbes looks at alumni careers and earnings when ranking colleges, and it just so happens that those areas in which Tennessee Tech shines. Frank said what makes Tennessee Tech so great is that it has all the ingredients for success.
“We have world-class academic programs, we have a lower tuition cost as compared to many universities in the state, and a better return on investment for students,” Frank said. “We’ve got a beautiful home base right here in Cookeville that we like to say is Tennessee’s college town. We are investing in our campus like never before, with more than $750 million in capital projects and improvements over the last 12 years. And something that I think is really important is that our faculty, as well as staff at the Center for Career Development, are very intentional about getting students into meaningful careers that match their passions and their field of study.”
Forbes also listed Tennessee Tech as one of the top employers in Tennessee.
“A number of people have been really intentional about how to ensure that this is an attractive, desirable place to work, that we are recruiting and retaining the best talent,” Frank said. “And so you see the fruits of those efforts now, and that is very gratifying.”
Tennessee Tech was also listed as a top 100 college in the south and one of the top research universities in the country. Frank said when Tennessee talks about their students being bold, fearless, confident, and kind, it’s not just a marketing slogan, but a value system that students are learning and living out every day.
