Degree Dividend
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Brillare Beauty Institute vs TCAT Athens: which has better ROI?

Private nonprofit, Cleveland TN · vs · Public, Athens TN

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but TCAT Athens comes closer — median earnings $40,540 against a $51,032 total, vs $24,728 at Brillare Beauty Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureBrillare Beauty InstituteTCAT Athens
Net price / yr$17,894$12,758
Total net cost$71,576$51,032
Median earnings, 10 yrs$24,728$40,540
Median debt$7,479
Payback
20-year net return-$544,216-$207,432

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Brillare Beauty Institute or TCAT Athens?

TCAT Athens, at $12,758 a year after aid versus $17,894 — a gap of $5,136 a year, or $20,544 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Brillare Beauty Institute or TCAT Athens graduates earn more?

TCAT Athens graduates report a median $40,540 ten years after entry, $15,812 more than the $24,728 at Brillare Beauty Institute. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.

Which graduates more of its students?

95% of students finish at TCAT Athens, against 84% at Brillare Beauty Institute. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.

Brillare Beauty Institute vs TCAT Athens: frequently asked questions

Is Brillare Beauty Institute or TCAT Athens a better value?
TCAT Athens comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Brillare Beauty Institute or TCAT Athens?
TCAT Athens: $12,758/yr net price after aid versus $17,894/yr at Brillare Beauty Institute — a difference of $5,136 a year, or about $20,544 over four years.
Do Brillare Beauty Institute or TCAT Athens graduates earn more?
TCAT Athens graduates earn a median $40,540 ten years after entry, versus $24,728 at Brillare Beauty Institute — a $15,812 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.