The University of Tennessee-Martin vs Bethel University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bethel University comes closer — median earnings $47,482 against a $50,380 total, vs $44,213 at The University of Tennessee-Martin. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | The University of Tennessee-Martin | Bethel University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,701 | $12,595 |
| Total net cost | $42,804 | $50,380 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,213 | $47,482 |
| Median debt | $21,024 | $27,249 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$125,744 | -$67,940 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, The University of Tennessee-Martin or Bethel University?
The University of Tennessee-Martin, at $10,701 a year after aid versus $12,595 — a gap of $1,894 a year, or $7,576 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do The University of Tennessee-Martin or Bethel University graduates earn more?
Bethel University graduates report a median $47,482 ten years after entry, $3,269 more than the $44,213 at The University of Tennessee-Martin. 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 leaves students with less debt, The University of Tennessee-Martin or Bethel University?
The University of Tennessee-Martin: its completers carry a median $21,024 in federal loans versus $27,249 at Bethel University, a difference of $6,225. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
53% of students finish at The University of Tennessee-Martin, against 35% at Bethel University. 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.