Head-to-head comparison
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville vs Baptist Health Sciences University: which has better ROI?
Option A Knoxville, TN
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
- Net price / year
- $18,976
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,249
- Payback
- 6.4 yrs
Option B Memphis, TN
Baptist Health Sciences University
- Net price / year
- $11,212
- Earnings, 10 years
- $72,529
- Payback
- 1.9 yrs
Baptist Health Sciences University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $44,848 in 1.9 years versus 6.4 years at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, on median earnings of $72,529 vs $60,249 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | Baptist Health Sciences University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,976 | $11,212 |
| Total net cost | $75,904 | $44,848 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,249 | $72,529 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $29,500 |
| Payback | 6.4 yrs | 1.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $161,876 | $438,532 |
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-Knoxville or Baptist Health Sciences University?
Baptist Health Sciences University, at $11,212 a year after aid versus $18,976 — a gap of $7,764 a year, or $31,056 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-Knoxville or Baptist Health Sciences University graduates earn more?
Baptist Health Sciences University graduates report a median $72,529 ten years after entry, $12,280 more than the $60,249 at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville. 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-Knoxville or Baptist Health Sciences University?
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $29,500 at Baptist Health Sciences University, a difference of $9,000. 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?
74% of students finish at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, against 40% at Baptist Health Sciences 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.