10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$283,570at year 10Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Dickson
⌖ Dickson, TN · 6 reportable field-and-credential outcomes
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$283,570 over 10 years
Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
—Modeled economic break-even
−119%Modeled 10-year ROI
$40,555Observed earnings · year 5
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK
Estimated payoff over ten years.
The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.
FEDERAL COST DATA
Four ways to read college price.
Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.
Cost, completion and earnings context
$14,780Average net price / year
$19,950Cost of attendance
$40,555Median earnings · year 5 after completion
74.5%Completion rate
Not availableAdmission rate
714Student size
NATIONAL CONTEXT
How this college compares
Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.
EARNINGS PATH
Reported earnings over time
$33,986Year 1
$43,136Year 4
$40,555Year 5
Separate federal cohorts may underlie different measurement years.
The college average is not the whole story.
Observed earnings vary substantially by field and credential at the same institution.
1Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians · Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma$61,3172Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) · Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma$52,3753Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants · Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma$48,8464Precision Metal Working · Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma$43,5665Dental Support Services and Allied Professions · Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma$30,9086Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services · Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma$22,260Observed year-4 earnings · compare like fields and credentials before deciding
Comparable colleges in TN
Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive—not a quality ranking.
Nashville, TN
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville
- Annual net price
- $15,816
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $40,763
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -117%
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski
- Annual net price
- $15,269
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $39,101
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -124%
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hohenwald
- Annual net price
- $12,267
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $40,568
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -119%
TCAT Athens
- Annual net price
- $12,758
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $42,010
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -113%
Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes
| Federal field | Credential | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $61,317 | Not available |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $52,375 | Not available |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $48,846 | $11,000 |
| Precision Metal Working | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $43,566 | Not available |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $30,908 | Not available |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $22,260 | Not available |
Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.