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Dyersburg State Community College vs Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers: which has better ROI?

Public, Dyersburg TN · vs · Private for-profit, Chattanooga TN

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Dyersburg State Community College comes closer — median earnings $36,132 against a $9,224 total, vs $25,954 at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureDyersburg State Community CollegeChattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers
Net price / yr$4,612$33,625
Total net cost$9,224$134,500
Median earnings, 10 yrs$36,132$25,954
Median debt$6,900$7,891
Payback
20-year net return-$253,784-$582,620

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

Which is cheaper, Dyersburg State Community College or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers?

Dyersburg State Community College, at $4,612 a year after aid versus $33,625 — a gap of $29,013 a year, or $125,276 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Dyersburg State Community College or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers graduates earn more?

Dyersburg State Community College graduates report a median $36,132 ten years after entry, $10,178 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 leaves students with less debt, Dyersburg State Community College or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers?

Dyersburg State Community College: its completers carry a median $6,900 in federal loans versus $7,891 at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers, a difference of $991. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

34% of students finish at Dyersburg State Community College, 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.

Dyersburg State Community College vs Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers: frequently asked questions

Is Dyersburg State Community College or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers a better value?
Dyersburg State Community College 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, Dyersburg State Community College or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers?
Dyersburg State Community College: $4,612/yr net price after aid versus $33,625/yr at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers — a difference of $29,013 a year, or about $125,276 over four years.
Do Dyersburg State Community College or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers graduates earn more?
Dyersburg State Community College graduates earn a median $36,132 ten years after entry, versus $25,954 at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers — a $10,178 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.