Southwest Tennessee Community College vs Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Southwest Tennessee Community College comes closer — median earnings $34,071 against a $9,508 total, vs $25,954 at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southwest Tennessee Community College | Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,754 | $33,625 |
| Total net cost | $9,508 | $134,500 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,071 | $25,954 |
| Median debt | — | $7,891 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$295,288 | -$582,620 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southwest Tennessee Community College or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers?
Southwest Tennessee Community College, at $4,754 a year after aid versus $33,625 — a gap of $28,871 a year, or $124,992 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Southwest Tennessee Community College or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers graduates earn more?
Southwest Tennessee Community College graduates report a median $34,071 ten years after entry, $8,117 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?
19% of students finish at Southwest Tennessee 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.