Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers

Chattanooga College delivers standout earnings outcomes that place it among Tennessee's top practical nursing programs, but the value comes with higher-than-typical debt. Graduates here earn $50,437 in their first year—substantially more than Tennessee's median of $39,477 and ranking in the 80th percentile statewide. That's nearly $11,000 more annually than the typical Tennessee LPN program, which translates to real purchasing power.

The tradeoff is debt: at $20,029, borrowing runs about double Tennessee's median, though this remains reasonable given the earning potential. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40 means graduates should be able to manage these loans comfortably, particularly in healthcare where job stability tends to be strong. The school serves predominantly low-income students (90% receive Pell grants), so higher borrowing may reflect students financing not just tuition but living expenses during an intensive program.

For families weighing this program, the key question is whether the $11,000 annual earnings premium justifies borrowing roughly $10,500 more than at typical Tennessee programs. The payback timeline looks favorable—graduates could theoretically recoup that extra debt in their first year through higher earnings. Among the state's top five LPN programs, only TCAT Nashville edges out Chattanooga College on earnings, making this a competitive choice despite the debt premium.