Ground Transportation at Fortis Institute-Cookeville
with a smaller student body of 301 in Cookeville, TN.
Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $30,416/yr fall 27% below the $41,480 national median for Ground Transportation. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 35.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Ground Transportation programs nationally.
The 40% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 14% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Ground Transportation graduates.
At $6,333 in median debt against $30,416 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.
Ranked #94 of 96 Ground Transportation programs, Fortis Institute-Cookeville falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $48,410 show a 59% jump from the $30,416 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.
Ground Transportation offers 14 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.
Earnings Overview
Projected 10-Year Earnings
Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.
Top Career Paths
Top career paths for Ground Transportation graduates by median salary.
| Career Path | Median Salary | Growth | AI-ProofAI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subway and streetcar operators | $84,830 | +3.4% | 59% |
| Locomotive engineers | $77,400 | +0.7% | 71% |
| Railroad conductors and yardmasters | $74,080 | +1.1% | 72% |
Ground Transportation Career Guide
See the full career breakdown for Ground Transportation — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Fortis Institute-Cookeville and 95 other schools.