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

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

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville comes closer — median earnings $38,955 against a $63,264 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 NashvilleChattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers
Net price / yr$15,816$33,625
Total net cost$63,264$134,500
Median earnings, 10 yrs$38,955$25,954
Median debt$7,891
Payback
20-year net return-$251,364-$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 Nashville or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers?

Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville, at $15,816 a year after aid versus $33,625 — a gap of $17,809 a year, or $71,236 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 Nashville or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers graduates earn more?

Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville graduates report a median $38,955 ten years after entry, $13,001 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?

70% of students finish at Tennessee College of Applied 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.

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

Is Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers a better value?
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville 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 Nashville or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers?
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville: $15,816/yr net price after aid versus $33,625/yr at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers — a difference of $17,809 a year, or about $71,236 over four years.
Do Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers graduates earn more?
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville graduates earn a median $38,955 ten years after entry, versus $25,954 at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers — a $13,001 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.