Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

The University of Tennessee-Martin vs Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers: which has better ROI?

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

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but The University of Tennessee-Martin comes closer — median earnings $44,213 against a $42,804 total, vs $25,954 at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureThe University of Tennessee-MartinChattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers
Net price / yr$10,701$33,625
Total net cost$42,804$134,500
Median earnings, 10 yrs$44,213$25,954
Median debt$21,024$7,891
Payback
20-year net return-$125,744-$582,620

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

Which is cheaper, The University of Tennessee-Martin or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers?

The University of Tennessee-Martin, at $10,701 a year after aid versus $33,625 — a gap of $22,924 a year, or $91,696 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 Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers graduates earn more?

The University of Tennessee-Martin graduates report a median $44,213 ten years after entry, $18,259 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 leaves students with less debt, The University of Tennessee-Martin or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers?

Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers: its completers carry a median $7,891 in federal loans versus $21,024 at The University of Tennessee-Martin, a difference of $13,133. 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 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.

The University of Tennessee-Martin vs Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers: frequently asked questions

Is The University of Tennessee-Martin or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers a better value?
The University of Tennessee-Martin 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, The University of Tennessee-Martin or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers?
The University of Tennessee-Martin: $10,701/yr net price after aid versus $33,625/yr at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers — a difference of $22,924 a year, or about $91,696 over four years.
Do The University of Tennessee-Martin or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers graduates earn more?
The University of Tennessee-Martin graduates earn a median $44,213 ten years after entry, versus $25,954 at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers — a $18,259 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.