Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers vs Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski comes closer — median earnings $40,368 against a $61,076 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-Pulaski |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $33,625 | $15,269 |
| Total net cost | $134,500 | $61,076 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $25,954 | $40,368 |
| Median debt | $7,891 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$582,620 | -$220,916 |
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-Pulaski?
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski, at $15,269 a year after aid versus $33,625 — a gap of $18,356 a year, or $73,424 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-Pulaski graduates earn more?
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski graduates report a median $40,368 ten years after entry, $14,414 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?
75% of students finish at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski, 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.