SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville vs Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville comes closer — median earnings $39,544 against a $98,800 total, vs $25,954 at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville | Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,700 | $33,625 |
| Total net cost | $98,800 | $134,500 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,544 | $25,954 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $7,891 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$275,120 | -$582,620 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers?
SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville, at $24,700 a year after aid versus $33,625 — a gap of $8,925 a year, or $35,700 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers graduates earn more?
SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville graduates report a median $39,544 ten years after entry, $13,590 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, SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville 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 $9,500 at SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville, a difference of $1,609. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
42% of students finish at SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville, 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.