Head-to-head comparison
Bethel University vs Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest: which has better ROI?
Option A McKenzie, TN
Bethel University
- Net price / year
- $12,595
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,482
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Newbern, TN
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest
- Net price / year
- $9,698
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,514
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bethel University comes closer — median earnings $47,482 against a $50,380 total, vs $38,514 at Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bethel University | Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,595 | $9,698 |
| Total net cost | $50,380 | $38,792 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,482 | $38,514 |
| Median debt | $27,249 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$67,940 | -$235,712 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bethel University or Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest?
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest, at $9,698 a year after aid versus $12,595 — a gap of $2,897 a year, or $11,588 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Bethel University or Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest graduates earn more?
Bethel University graduates report a median $47,482 ten years after entry, $8,968 more than the $38,514 at Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest. 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.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest, 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.