Fortis Institute-Cookeville vs Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Fortis Institute-Cookeville comes closer — median earnings $34,509 against a $47,164 total, vs $25,954 at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fortis Institute-Cookeville | Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,582 | $33,625 |
| Total net cost | $47,164 | $134,500 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,509 | $25,954 |
| Median debt | $13,000 | $7,891 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$324,184 | -$582,620 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Fortis Institute-Cookeville or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers?
Fortis Institute-Cookeville, at $23,582 a year after aid versus $33,625 — a gap of $10,043 a year, or $87,336 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Fortis Institute-Cookeville or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers graduates earn more?
Fortis Institute-Cookeville graduates report a median $34,509 ten years after entry, $8,555 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, Fortis Institute-Cookeville or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers?
Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers: its completers carry a median $7,891 in federal loans versus $13,000 at Fortis Institute-Cookeville, a difference of $5,109. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
50% of students finish at Fortis Institute-Cookeville, 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.