Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers vs TCAT Athens: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but TCAT Athens comes closer — median earnings $40,540 against a $51,032 total, vs $25,954 at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers | TCAT Athens |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $33,625 | $12,758 |
| Total net cost | $134,500 | $51,032 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $25,954 | $40,540 |
| Median debt | $7,891 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$582,620 | -$207,432 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers or TCAT Athens?
TCAT Athens, at $12,758 a year after aid versus $33,625 — a gap of $20,867 a year, or $83,468 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers or TCAT Athens graduates earn more?
TCAT Athens graduates report a median $40,540 ten years after entry, $14,586 more than the $25,954 at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers. 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 12% at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers. 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.