Home / Worth-It Scores / Tennessee / The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Is The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $51,151 helps, but median debt of $19,500 plus yearly net price of $14,265 creates a tighter path. For context, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's net price is about 5% above the typical 4-year, public school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$13,801
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrNet price is slightly above average
You'd pay about $647 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $3,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$14,265
Median earnings 10 years out
$51,151
Median debt at graduation
$19,500
Graduation rate
52%
At The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, a typical graduate carries about $19,500 in student debt and earns roughly $51,151 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $222 per month, or 5% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is a public four year school in Chattanooga, TN. For many families, the key question is whether the published value here beats cheaper in state or regional alternatives once your real aid offer arrives.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Public 4-year
Tennessee Technological
Cookeville, TN
Worth-It Score: 64/100
Median net price: $14,246
Public 4-year
Middle Tennessee State
Murfreesboro, TN
Worth-It Score: 65/100
Median net price: $13,359
Public 4-year
Tennessee State
Nashville, TN
Worth-It Score: 48/100
Median net price: $15,796
Public 4-year
East Tennessee State
Johnson City, TN
Worth-It Score: 57/100
Median net price: $15,983
Public 4-year
The University of Tennessee Southern
Pulaski, TN
Worth-It Score: 53/100
Median net price: $12,798
Common questions about The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
The median net price at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is $14,265 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in Tennessee? See the most affordable public universities in Tennessee →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →