Top 50 Best Certificate Programs in Tennessee by ROI

Every Certificate program in Tennessee ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all majors. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in Tennessee

188

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

-$279,604

Across all Tennessee programs

Average Annual Cost

$18,364

Cost of attendance

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Avg Debt
1	Northeast State Community College Grad rate: 30.0%	Basic Skills and Developmental/Remedial Education.	+$541,866	$70,252	$14,129	$6,700	Full ROI →
2	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville Grad rate: 73.2%	Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies.	+$415,523	$63,416	$12,797	N/A	Full ROI →
3	Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$352,415	$60,730	N/A	$16,433	Full ROI →
4	Chattanooga State Community College Grad rate: 21.7%	Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies.	+$266,686	$55,995	$13,214	N/A	Full ROI →
5	Southwest Tennessee Community College Grad rate: 16.5%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$221,829	$54,323	$12,649	$8,875	Full ROI →
6	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro Grad rate: 86.3%	Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies.	+$203,070	$52,775	$12,430	N/A	Full ROI →
7	TCAT Athens Grad rate: 63.1%	Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies.	+$196,478	$52,342	$10,362	N/A	Full ROI →
8	Nashville State Community College Grad rate: 16.7%	Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management.	+$187,886	$52,055	$13,214	N/A	Full ROI →
9	Walters State Community College Grad rate: 33.9%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$175,493	$51,416	$12,827	N/A	Full ROI →
10	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hohenwald Grad rate: 57.4%	Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies.	+$144,571	$50,007	$15,569	N/A	Full ROI →
11	Chattanooga State Community College Grad rate: 21.7%	Electrical and Power Transmission Installers.	+$144,256	$50,346	$13,214	$7,000	Full ROI →
12	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville Grad rate: 73.2%	Nursing.	+$87,023	$46,991	$12,797	N/A	Full ROI →
13	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson Grad rate: 74.8%	Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies.	+$75,691	$46,570	$15,709	N/A	Full ROI →
14	Jackson State Community College Grad rate: 21.8%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$56,216	$45,576	$15,304	N/A	Full ROI →
15	Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville Grad rate: 72.5%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	+$47,128	$46,479	$15,497	$19,966	Full ROI →
16	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump Grad rate: 62.8%	Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies.	+$40,595	$44,433	$8,065	N/A	Full ROI →
17	Roane State Community College Grad rate: 32.4%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$29,641	$44,511	$11,021	$7,080	Full ROI →
18	Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville Grad rate: 58.9%	Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies.	+$9,961	$44,926	$32,359	$12,000	Full ROI →
19	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis Grad rate: 40.9%	Nursing.	+$7,246	$43,003	$12,814	N/A	Full ROI →
20	Cleveland State Community College Grad rate: 29.1%	Criminal Justice and Corrections.	-$23,652	$41,944	$14,003	$6,318	Full ROI →
21	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Upper Cumberland Grad rate: 82.1%	Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies.	-$26,195	$41,570	$17,595	N/A	Full ROI →
22	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Dickson Grad rate: 76.0%	Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies.	-$36,035	$40,925	$14,535	N/A	Full ROI →
23	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnville Grad rate: 70.1%	Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies.	-$37,368	$40,823	$13,828	N/A	Full ROI →
24	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Morristown Grad rate: 74.4%	Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies.	-$41,778	$40,695	$15,678	N/A	Full ROI →
25	Walters State Community College Grad rate: 33.9%	Criminal Justice and Corrections.	-$45,934	$41,472	$12,827	$16,702	Full ROI →
26	Nashville State Community College Grad rate: 16.7%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	-$49,623	$41,210	$13,214	$15,266	Full ROI →
27	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski Grad rate: 65.7%	Precision Metal Working.	-$58,613	$39,822	$15,053	N/A	Full ROI →
28	Nashville State Community College Grad rate: 16.7%	Health and Medical Administrative Services.	-$66,094	$39,356	$13,214	N/A	Full ROI →
29	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville Grad rate: 68.4%	Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies.	-$67,129	$39,326	$13,649	N/A	Full ROI →
30	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville Grad rate: 68.4%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	-$70,491	$39,876	$13,649	$10,639	Full ROI →
31	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville Grad rate: 73.2%	Precision Metal Working.	-$74,197	$38,930	$12,797	N/A	Full ROI →
32	Chattanooga State Community College Grad rate: 21.7%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	-$81,985	$39,363	$13,214	$11,875	Full ROI →
33	Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville Grad rate: 72.5%	Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR).	-$84,377	$38,556	$15,497	N/A	Full ROI →
34	Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest Grad rate: 69.6%	Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies.	-$84,764	$38,613	$17,024	N/A	Full ROI →
35	Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga Grad rate: 53.9%	Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR).	-$89,703	$39,791	$29,136	$12,139	Full ROI →
36	Columbia State Community College Grad rate: 29.0%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	-$90,245	$38,819	$12,668	$10,339	Full ROI →
37	Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga Grad rate: 53.9%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	-$93,906	$39,639	$29,136	$13,000	Full ROI →
38	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Dickson Grad rate: 76.0%	Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR).	-$95,635	$37,945	$14,535	N/A	Full ROI →
39	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville Grad rate: 68.4%	Precision Metal Working.	-$97,109	$37,827	$13,649	N/A	Full ROI →
40	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Dickson Grad rate: 76.0%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	-$100,085	$38,465	$14,535	$11,000	Full ROI →
41	TCAT Athens Grad rate: 63.1%	Precision Metal Working.	-$109,802	$37,028	$10,362	N/A	Full ROI →
42	Chattanooga State Community College Grad rate: 21.7%	Precision Metal Working.	-$124,578	$36,743	$13,214	$4,611	Full ROI →
43	Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville Grad rate: 58.9%	Precision Metal Working.	-$124,748	$38,017	$32,359	$9,429	Full ROI →
44	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson Grad rate: 74.8%	Electrical and Power Transmission Installers.	-$125,829	$36,494	$15,709	N/A	Full ROI →
45	Volunteer State Community College Grad rate: 23.4%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	-$139,773	$36,545	$16,077	$10,812	Full ROI →
46	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hohenwald Grad rate: 57.4%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	-$141,944	$36,120	$15,569	$6,500	Full ROI →
47	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzie Grad rate: 74.8%	Precision Metal Working.	-$144,032	$35,232	$8,672	N/A	Full ROI →
48	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson Grad rate: 74.8%	Precision Metal Working.	-$151,829	$35,194	$15,709	N/A	Full ROI →
49	Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville Grad rate: 72.5%	Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies.	-$153,937	$35,078	$15,497	N/A	Full ROI →
50	Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville Grad rate: 58.9%	Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies.	-$157,545	$36,656	$32,359	$13,560	Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.