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Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis

Memphis, TN 1,391 Undergrads 47.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$18,418
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,315
After Aid
Median Earnings
$40,340
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$14,315
Peer Midpoint: $17,333.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$40,340
Peer Midpoint: $34,461
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+29%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Graduation Rate47.2%
Peer Midpoint: 68.7%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age26.3
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients65.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS47.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$472k
+$81k
-$12k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$459k
+$67k
-$25k
Full Cost$18k/yr
+$455k
+$64k
-$29k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$14k/yr
Never
-191%
Full Cost$18k/yr
Never
-171%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return-206%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-89%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
CertCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$25,891
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$185k
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection
CertCIP: 4604
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$14,627
Natl Median: $42,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$306k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
CertCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$31,052
Natl Median: $32,681
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
CertCIP: 1204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$17,901
Natl Median: $26,307
Lifetime Value Added
-$276k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$27,174
Natl Median: $33,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Design and Applied Arts
CertCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,116
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1513
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
CertCIP: 4603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,078
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,650
Natl Median: $43,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
CertCIP: 4702
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,879
Natl Median: $48,148
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,199
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nursing
CertCIP: 5116
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,469
Natl Median: $44,588
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,143
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$274k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,924
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,935
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 0183
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,933
Natl Median: $34,862
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.