College students across North Alabama will soon be able to attend Tennessee Tech University at in-state tuition rates, saving more than $2,000 per semester.
Beginning in fall 2027, students from six Alabama counties will qualify for Tennessee Tech’s in-state tuition rate: Madison, Limestone, Morgan, Lawrence, Lauderdale and Jackson counties.
The Tennessee Tech Board of Trustees approved the expansion Sept. 24 as the Cookeville university looks to strengthen its ties to the Huntsville region and build on growing enrollment.
“The Huntsville area, with its vibrant defense, information technology and advanced manufacturing industries, is a natural fit for Tennessee Tech’s STEM-infused academics and commitment to hands-on learning,” Director of Admissions Jacob Cutshall said.
Cutshall said the university already has a strong alumni presence in the Huntsville area, including graduates whose children are now considering their own college options.
“Plus, at less than a three-hour drive away, we’re the perfect distance for students wanting to explore somewhere new while staying just close enough to their hometown,” he said.
The university also pointed to Huntsville’s aerospace ties as a reason for expanding its reach into North Alabama.
More than 200 Tennessee Tech alumni have worked for NASA, according to the university. Among them is retired NASA astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore, a Tennessee Tech trustee who spent more than nine months aboard the International Space Station after Boeing’s Starliner Crew Flight Test encountered problems in 2024.
The tuition expansion comes as Tennessee Tech adds academic programs in fields closely connected to Huntsville’s workforce.
The university launched a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering in 2024 and added an artificial intelligence degree earlier this year. A Bachelor of Architecture program is scheduled to debut next fall. Tennessee Tech offers more than 265 programs of study.
The university also completed a nearly $60 million renovation of its football stadium this fall, while its NCAA Division I athletic programs recently joined the Southern Conference.
Tennessee Tech reported its highest enrollment in more than a decade this semester. The university has also appeared on U.S. News & World Report’s Best National Universities list for 12 consecutive years and was named Tennessee’s top public university by Money.com, according to the university.
Applications are already open for fall 2027. Domestic undergraduate students can apply without an application fee through the end of September.
Tennessee Tech also offers guaranteed Presidential Scholars awards ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 annually for students who meet qualifying GPA and standardized test score requirements.
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