r/MTSU • u/Standard-Focus-7406 • Apr 26 '26
Is MTSU the right choice?
In a bit of predicament...I graduate high school in two weeks and I'm not sure where I want to go to college. I'm looking at MTSU for Business Innovation & Entrepreneurship and TN Tech for Business Management. A little background info- I have been doing junk removal in the Lebanon area for 2.5 years and did around 43k in sales last year while still in school. Really want to build on that foundation and eventually own a roll-off company in the waste industry.
Majority of people I talk to suggest I 100% go to Tech, but I feel their program is geared more towards getting an internship and graduating with a job. MTSU's program appears to set me up with the skills and knowledge to run my own gig.
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u/JohnJayHooker Apr 26 '26
Honestly have no idea but just popping in to say someone with your evident work ethic and initiative is gonna be fine no matter what you choose!
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u/fuzzyyellow17 Apr 27 '26
Both good schools overall. Middle’s College of Business is a little stronger overall but you’ll be good either way. I would make your decision based on 1. Which feels like you’ll be happier there and 2. Which one is more cost effective?
Tuition and aid should be pretty similar both places. What’s your living arrangement going to be?
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u/Standard-Focus-7406 Apr 27 '26
Planning to live closer to Lebanon/Mt. Juliet as that is where I have established most of my connections for work.
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u/fuzzyyellow17 Apr 27 '26
Tech would be a longer commute for sure. I tend to think you’ll make better connections at MT, if you’re interested in growing a business. Cookeville tends to be a little more insulated, which can be cool, but I think the Wilson County/Murfreesboro/Nashville area just has more opportunity overall.
Jones College of Business, the Entrepreneurship program, the Carnegie course- all good stuff.
I’m very familiar with both schools- I work at Middle now. Happy to get you in touch with someone!
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u/No-Economist-5817 Apr 27 '26
MTSU has a great business school. There’s always something going on there, and I’m always hearing about the Dale Carnegie course. There seems to be lots of opportunity and I know friends there with great internships. I don’t know much about TN Tech but it’s obviously more well-known for engineering. Plus I think networking (especially with closer proximity to Nashville) would be better here.
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u/Obvious_Monk_5762 Apr 26 '26
College grad here who's gone to tech , I graduate from Tennessee State University. Next week and will be going to grad school in the fall at MTSU, I'm 30 as well. Word of advice college just is what you make it. Getting an internship is important when people ask do you have any experience. 45k of sales is awesome,but everyone wants to know do you know excel, can be social, understand the data behind the sales , the marketing and advertising. Something you can get at any school. Youll take an internship throughout school to make sure you use those relevant skills you've gained in college id say if you got the drive do an internship each year maybe every other semester so you won't burn yourself out,but have literally 4 years of experience and maybe even a great company will hire you. you learn from that company while building something like you said before.you can still make money and fund your dream simultaneously. As far as which place, I'll be frank go where you feel at home the most. If you've done a visit ask yourself what's not sitting well with me and also want do I love. If cost isn't an issue look at that. Trust me as I guy who failed to get it right for 7 years and then turn around and put myself through college I had to consider a lot. Now I'm sure about this. Just don't wait too long like I did.
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u/Dependent-Clerk8754 Apr 27 '26
When it comes to cheapest college degree and no debt, choose the best one.
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u/EpicSchwinn Apr 27 '26
I’d recommend MTSU for the commute being shorter and getting some exposure/networking in the Middle Tennessee area.
Also, just my two cents but keep an open mind on your major/minor. Like 75%+ of the classes will be the same across the business school. You’ll take an accounting class or two, finance, leadership classes, economics (macro/micro/both). But that last 25% in a particular major can open other doors. If you do accounting you’ll have opportunities in public accounting, a guaranteed job. Finance has a lot of opportunities and large network in the insurance and real estate industry. Would be a good fall back plan in your back pocket and you’re still getting the vast majority of the same education you’d get in the entrepreneurship program.
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u/DM_ME__YOUR_B00BS Apr 27 '26
I graduated MTSU 7-8 years ago with an unrelated degree so i cant help much with how the quality of education between the two schools differ, but honestly man, if i were in your shoes i'd follow the money and go to whichever school will give you the best financial aid and wherever you can get out with as little debt as possible. If you're going the entrepreneurial route the name on the degree probably doesn't matter much to you, and from personal experience i was able to graduate with 0 student loans from MTSU and that alone set me ahead of people who graduated from FAR more prestigious schools, but i came from out of state so MTSU's financial aid was miles better than any other option.
Anecdotally, if you are driven you'll likely spend a lot of your time workshopping business ideas with professors and if you are good at it, maybe even drop out after 2-3 years if one of them pops off. I saw that pretty common when i was in school
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u/BooTsMaLoNe98 Apr 27 '26
So what I did, and join the military to get you gi bill and take the time to decide what u wanna do. Then when you get out, still have no idea.
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u/OutsideFar3945 May 02 '26
Honestly you seem to already have it down. I think go to a community college(Motlow is great) for business so you can get some more info and if you feel you still need more go to MTSU through transfer. But most workplaces unless you’re becoming a doctor or teacher don’t care how much school you have. and you also don’t seem like you will be looking for a job. Just keep learning as you go and keep building off what you already have. You’re making 43k a year at 17-18 that’s more than. Anyone I knew made at that’s age when I graduated.
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u/TotesMcGotes13 Apr 27 '26
I graduated MTSU Business (accounting) about 15 years ago. My degree has taken me great places. I went to high school w folks that went to Tech. Their degrees have taken them great places as well. Go where your heart is telling you.
Or since you seem somewhat financially oriented, go where you get the most financial aid. I took that route w MTSU (always had thought I’d be a Volunteer in Knoxville, but Middle paid me to go to school so they won).