Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Morristown

Starting wages around $40,000 place this program notably behind its in-state competition. While Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Morristown graduates earn more than the bottom half of similar programs statewide, they're making roughly $14,000 less first-year than peers at sister TCAT campuses in Murfreesboro or Dickson—a significant gap for entering the same trades. The program lands at the 18th percentile nationally, suggesting most heavy equipment maintenance certificates elsewhere deliver stronger initial returns.

The estimated debt load of around $8,800 keeps the financial risk manageable, with graduates owing just over two months of first-year wages. Earnings do climb 17% by year four, reaching $47,000, though this still trails what many comparable Tennessee programs produce right out of the gate. For families weighing TCAT options across the state, location matters less than outcomes here—Morristown's program costs about the same as higher-performing alternatives that could mean an extra $1,000+ monthly in early career earnings.

If your child has their heart set on this campus specifically, the modest debt means it won't be catastrophic. But if they're choosing between Tennessee's two dozen heavy equipment programs primarily on job prospects, several TCAT schools appear to better position graduates for those first critical years in the field.