Head-to-head comparison
Chattanooga State Community College vs Bethel University: which has better ROI?
Option A Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga State Community College
- Net price / year
- $5,283
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,598
- Payback
- No payback
Option B McKenzie, TN
Bethel University
- Net price / year
- $12,595
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,482
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bethel University comes closer — median earnings $47,482 against a $50,380 total, vs $37,598 at Chattanooga State Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Chattanooga State Community College | Bethel University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,283 | $12,595 |
| Total net cost | $10,566 | $50,380 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,598 | $47,482 |
| Median debt | $10,419 | $27,249 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$225,806 | -$67,940 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Chattanooga State Community College or Bethel University?
Chattanooga State Community College, at $5,283 a year after aid versus $12,595 — a gap of $7,312 a year, or $39,814 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Chattanooga State Community College or Bethel University graduates earn more?
Bethel University graduates report a median $47,482 ten years after entry, $9,884 more than the $37,598 at Chattanooga State Community College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Chattanooga State Community College or Bethel University?
Chattanooga State Community College: its completers carry a median $10,419 in federal loans versus $27,249 at Bethel University, a difference of $16,830. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
35% of students finish at Bethel University, against 26% at Chattanooga State Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.