Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Pellissippi State Community College vs Brillare Beauty Institute: which has better ROI?

Public, Knoxville TN · vs · Private nonprofit, Cleveland TN

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Pellissippi State Community College comes closer — median earnings $38,440 against a $9,966 total, vs $24,728 at Brillare Beauty Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasurePellissippi State Community CollegeBrillare Beauty Institute
Net price / yr$4,983$17,894
Total net cost$9,966$71,576
Median earnings, 10 yrs$38,440$24,728
Median debt$8,725$7,479
Payback
20-year net return-$208,366-$544,216

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

Which is cheaper, Pellissippi State Community College or Brillare Beauty Institute?

Pellissippi State Community College, at $4,983 a year after aid versus $17,894 — a gap of $12,911 a year, or $61,610 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Pellissippi State Community College or Brillare Beauty Institute graduates earn more?

Pellissippi State Community College graduates report a median $38,440 ten years after entry, $13,712 more than the $24,728 at Brillare Beauty Institute. 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, Pellissippi State Community College or Brillare Beauty Institute?

Brillare Beauty Institute: its completers carry a median $7,479 in federal loans versus $8,725 at Pellissippi State Community College, a difference of $1,246. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

84% of students finish at Brillare Beauty Institute, against 31% at Pellissippi State Community College. 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.

Pellissippi State Community College vs Brillare Beauty Institute: frequently asked questions

Is Pellissippi State Community College or Brillare Beauty Institute a better value?
Pellissippi 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, Pellissippi State Community College or Brillare Beauty Institute?
Pellissippi State Community College: $4,983/yr net price after aid versus $17,894/yr at Brillare Beauty Institute — a difference of $12,911 a year, or about $61,610 over four years.
Do Pellissippi State Community College or Brillare Beauty Institute graduates earn more?
Pellissippi State Community College graduates earn a median $38,440 ten years after entry, versus $24,728 at Brillare Beauty Institute — a $13,712 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.