Head-to-head comparison
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga vs Lincoln Memorial University: which has better ROI?
Option A Chattanooga, TN
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
- Net price / year
- $14,265
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,151
- Payback
- 20.4 yrs
Option B Harrogate, TN
Lincoln Memorial University
- Net price / year
- $20,406
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,956
- Payback
- 51.1 yrs
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $57,060 in 20.4 years versus 51.1 years at Lincoln Memorial University, on median earnings of $51,151 vs $49,956 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | Lincoln Memorial University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,265 | $20,406 |
| Total net cost | $57,060 | $81,624 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,151 | $49,956 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $20,000 |
| Payback | 20.4 yrs | 51.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$1,240 | -$49,704 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga or Lincoln Memorial University?
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, at $14,265 a year after aid versus $20,406 — a gap of $6,141 a year, or $24,564 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 The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga or Lincoln Memorial University graduates earn more?
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga graduates report a median $51,151 ten years after entry, $1,195 more than the $49,956 at Lincoln Memorial University. 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 leaves students with less debt, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga or Lincoln Memorial University?
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $20,000 at Lincoln Memorial University, a difference of $500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
50% of students finish at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, against 50% at Lincoln Memorial 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.