Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton vs Brillare Beauty Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton comes closer — median earnings $35,069 against a $34,272 total, vs $24,728 at Brillare Beauty Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton | Brillare Beauty Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,568 | $17,894 |
| Total net cost | $34,272 | $71,576 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,069 | $24,728 |
| Median debt | — | $7,479 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$300,092 | -$544,216 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton or Brillare Beauty Institute?
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton, at $8,568 a year after aid versus $17,894 — a gap of $9,326 a year, or $37,304 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton or Brillare Beauty Institute graduates earn more?
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton graduates report a median $35,069 ten years after entry, $10,341 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 graduates more of its students?
84% of students finish at Brillare Beauty Institute, against 81% at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton. 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.