Ground Transportation at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville

A debt load around $9,280 for a certificate program that positions graduates for roughly $39,000 in first-year earnings creates manageable repayment math—about 24% of annual income, well below the threshold where loan payments become burdensome. These figures draw from peer programs across Tennessee and the national landscape, giving us a reasonable ballpark for what commercial driving and logistics certificates typically produce. With 42% of students receiving Pell grants, this program clearly serves working families looking for quick workforce entry rather than traditional four-year paths.

The challenge lies in the performance gap visible among Tennessee's ground transportation programs. Top performers like Chattanooga State report graduates earning nearly $49,000—$10,000 more than what similar programs in the state suggest for this Shelbyville certificate. That difference matters when you're calculating monthly loan payments and household budgets. Commercial driving certifications should lead to relatively consistent outcomes given industry demand and CDL licensing requirements, so the variation points to differences in employer connections, training quality, or regional job markets.

For families weighing this investment, the debt burden won't sink you, but the earnings ceiling based on comparable programs suggests this isn't a fast track to middle-class stability. If your child can access one of Tennessee's stronger-performing programs—particularly those reporting actual outcomes above $45,000—the same debt would deliver significantly better financial footing. Otherwise, treat this as what it appears to be: workforce entry at modest cost, not career transformation.