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Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston vs Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers: which has better ROI?

Public, Livingston TN · vs · Private for-profit, Chattanooga TN

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston comes closer — median earnings $33,497 against a $50,448 total, vs $25,954 at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureTennessee College of Applied Technology-LivingstonChattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers
Net price / yr$12,612$33,625
Total net cost$50,448$134,500
Median earnings, 10 yrs$33,497$25,954
Median debt$7,891
Payback
20-year net return-$347,708-$582,620

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

Which is cheaper, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers?

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston, at $12,612 a year after aid versus $33,625 — a gap of $21,013 a year, or $84,052 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-Livingston or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers graduates earn more?

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston graduates report a median $33,497 ten years after entry, $7,543 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?

78% of students finish at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston, 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.

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston vs Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers: frequently asked questions

Is Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers a better value?
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston 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, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers?
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston: $12,612/yr net price after aid versus $33,625/yr at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers — a difference of $21,013 a year, or about $84,052 over four years.
Do Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers graduates earn more?
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston graduates earn a median $33,497 ten years after entry, versus $25,954 at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers — a $7,543 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.