The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga — ROI, Cost & Payback
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga charges a net price of $14,265/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $57,060. Graduates earn a median $51,151 ten years after entry, $2,791/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 20.4 years — a 20-year net return of -$1,240, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's 20.4-year payback ranks #1,067 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 17% of them, and #15 of 91 in Tennessee.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $14,265/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $57,060 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $51,151 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $2,791/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $19,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 20.4 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$1,240 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's own numbers. Net price $14,265 × 4 years = $57,060 total. Median earnings $51,151 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $2,791 a year of premium. $57,060 ÷ $2,791 = 20.4 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$1,240. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga students graduate with?
A median $19,500 in federal loans among completers, or 38% of the $51,151 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga students graduate?
50% finish their degree — 50% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $57,060 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $114,120 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga expensive compared with other Tennessee colleges?
Its $14,265 net price runs $1,004 below the $15,269 median across the 91 Tennessee colleges we profile, and $4,016 less across the full degree.