Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest vs Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest comes closer — median earnings $38,514 against a $38,792 total, vs $25,954 at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest | Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,698 | $33,625 |
| Total net cost | $38,792 | $134,500 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,514 | $25,954 |
| Median debt | — | $7,891 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$235,712 | -$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 Northwest or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers?
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest, at $9,698 a year after aid versus $33,625 — a gap of $23,927 a year, or $95,708 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 Northwest or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers graduates earn more?
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest graduates report a median $38,514 ten years after entry, $12,560 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?
69% of students finish at Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest, 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.