Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers vs Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville comes closer — median earnings $40,469 against a $28,776 total, vs $25,954 at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $33,625 | $7,194 |
| Total net cost | $134,500 | $28,776 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $25,954 | $40,469 |
| Median debt | $7,891 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$582,620 | -$186,596 |
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 Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville?
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville, at $7,194 a year after aid versus $33,625 — a gap of $26,431 a year, or $105,724 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 Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville graduates earn more?
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville graduates report a median $40,469 ten years after entry, $14,515 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?
82% of students finish at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville, 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.