Head-to-head comparison
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga vs Lipscomb 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 Nashville, TN
Lipscomb University
- Net price / year
- $24,739
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,541
- Payback
- 13.8 yrs
Lipscomb University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $98,956 in 13.8 years versus 20.4 years at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, on median earnings of $55,541 vs $51,151 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | Lipscomb University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,265 | $24,739 |
| Total net cost | $57,060 | $98,956 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,151 | $55,541 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 20.4 yrs | 13.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$1,240 | $44,664 |
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 Lipscomb University?
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, at $14,265 a year after aid versus $24,739 — a gap of $10,474 a year, or $41,896 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 Lipscomb University graduates earn more?
Lipscomb University graduates report a median $55,541 ten years after entry, $4,390 more than the $51,151 at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. 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 Lipscomb University?
Completers at both borrow a median $19,500, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
72% of students finish at Lipscomb University, against 50% at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. 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.