For access among nonprofit four-year institutions
For mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga #391 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $57,377, placing The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga in the 32.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga sits in the 43.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting graduate outcomes that outpace what similar students earn at comparable institutions. The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's composite ranking reflects a consistent pattern of graduate earnings that exceed what similar students achieve at comparable institutions. The university's standing in the 43.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — alongside median 4-year earnings of $57,377 — signals a return on investment that holds up across the institution's broad, business-anchored program mix.
Azimuth ranks The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga #391 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 73.7 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Chattanooga, TN, University of Tennessee-Chattanooga enrolls roughly 10,074 undergraduates. Freshman retention stands at 72.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 50.2%, reflecting solid degree-completion performance for a broad-access institution of its type. The composite is anchored by return on investment. Azimuth ranks The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga #900 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 39.2 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $57,377, placing The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga in the 32.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,410 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga in the 43.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business is the dominant program family, and the concentration in career-oriented fields helps explain why graduates tend to enter the labor market with competitive early earnings relative to comparable institutions. Access and affordability round out the composite picture. The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga sits in the 78.6 percentile for access and the 81.4 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 32.8% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 29.3% identifying as first-generation college students. The institution admits about 81.1% of applicants, reflecting a broad-access admissions posture that keeps the door open to a wide range of students. Mobility sits in the 73.6 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, shaped by how well graduates from lower-income backgrounds convert their degrees into durable earnings gains.
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's published cost of attendance is $25,489, but financial aid substantially reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $9,876; middle-income families pay around $13,594; higher-income families pay approximately $19,137. Azimuth ranks The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga #266 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's aid structure combines federal, state, and institutional funding to narrow the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Need-based aid is available through the FAFSA, and the university participates in federal Direct Loan and Pell Grant programs alongside state and institutional scholarships. Merit aid is also available for qualifying students, providing additional pathways to reduce net cost. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,353; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's typical four-year earnings of $57,377, median federal debt of $19,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $220 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, four-year earnings of $44,146 would shift the real affordability picture — a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than the institutional average. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is a strong fit for students drawn to business, applied sciences, and professional fields who want a public university experience in TN with solid long-term financial outcomes and broad access for first-generation and Pell-eligible students. The earnings case is straightforward. Graduates earn in the 32.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and University of Tennessee-Chattanooga sits in the 43.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $3,410 less than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students focused on post-graduation financial outcomes. The access profile is broad. 32.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 29.3% are first-generation students, and University of Tennessee-Chattanooga sits in the 32.5 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. For Pell-eligible students who complete their degree, 48.1% graduate, suggesting the institution supports access students through to completion. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Business and related applied fields, so students whose interests align there will find the strongest outcomes; and students who need to borrow should weigh median debt of $19,500 against the earnings trajectory before enrolling.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the The University Of Tennessee-Chattanooga hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's published cost of attendance is $25,489, but financial aid substantially reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $9,876; middle-income families pay around $13,594; higher-income families pay approximately $19,137.
Azimuth ranks The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga #266 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's aid structure combines federal, state, and institutional funding to narrow the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Need-based aid is available through the FAFSA, and the university participates in federal Direct Loan and Pell Grant programs alongside state and institutional scholarships.
Merit aid is also available for qualifying students, providing additional pathways to reduce net cost. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,353; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's typical four-year earnings of $57,377, median federal debt of $19,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $220 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, four-year earnings of $44,146 would shift the real affordability picture — a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than the institutional average.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga earn median 4-year earnings of $57,377, placing The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga in the 32.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,410 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga in the 43.6 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga #900 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That earnings figure runs above the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band), reflecting a program mix anchored in Business and applied professional fields that connect graduates to regional and national labor markets.
The earnings pattern at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is shaped by a concentration in Business (21% of graduates), Education (7%), and Engineering (7%). Business Administration anchors the return story, combining substantial cohort scale with strong four-year earnings.
The Kinesiology program graduates 212 students with median earnings of $48,413 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #114 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Psychology, General and Business Administration also contribute meaningfully, with 188 and 186 graduates earning $44,700 and $66,554 respectively at the four-year mark.
Among the highest-earning programs, Teacher Education and Biology, General post four-year median earnings of $46,029 and $50,597, offering meaningful salary upside for graduates who enter those fields. Relative to TN's no-degree earnings baseline of $31,130, the degree delivers a clear and durable earnings advantage across the institution's major program families.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg Similar quality tier (#15234 ranked) | PA | 98% | $63,435 | #15234 | Compare |
Northeastern State University Similar quality tier (#15236 ranked) | OK | 100% | $45,379 | #15236 | Compare |
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Similar quality tier (#15218 ranked) | CA | 98% | $47,626 | #15218 | Compare |
Western Kentucky University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#15250 ranked) | KY | 94% | $43,889 | #15250 | Compare |
University Of New Orleans Similar quality tier (#15195 ranked) | LA | 74% | $47,872 | #15195 | Compare |
Engineering-Related Fields
51 graduates
Chemical Engineering
16 graduates
Civil Engineering
24 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
54 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
40 graduates
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's program mix is anchored in Business, with additional depth in health, engineering, and applied social sciences. Business accounts for 21% of graduates, followed by Education at 7% and Engineering at 7%, reflecting a practical, career-oriented degree mix across 37 programs serving roughly 2,026 students annually.
Business Administration is the institution's highest aggregate-return program, combining cohort scale with solid median four-year earnings. Among the most popular programs, Kinesiology program graduates 212 students with median earnings of $48,413 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks the program #114 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Psychology, General and Business Administration round out the high-enrollment tier, each graduating 188 and 186 students respectively, with median early-career earnings of $44,700 and $66,554. The highest-earning programs at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga cluster in applied and technical fields.
Nursing leads on earnings, with graduates posting median earnings of $77,838 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks the program #261 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business Administration and Criminal Justice follow closely, with median earnings of $66,554 and $53,565 respectively — both direct-to-workforce pathways where earnings reflect labor-market outcomes.
