Head-to-head comparison
Chattanooga State Community College vs Fortis Institute-Nashville: 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 Nashville, TN
Fortis Institute-Nashville
- Net price / year
- $29,039
- Earnings, 10 years
- $32,886
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Chattanooga State Community College comes closer — median earnings $37,598 against a $10,566 total, vs $32,886 at Fortis Institute-Nashville. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Chattanooga State Community College | Fortis Institute-Nashville |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,283 | $29,039 |
| Total net cost | $10,566 | $116,156 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,598 | $32,886 |
| Median debt | $10,419 | $12,346 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$225,806 | -$425,636 |
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 Fortis Institute-Nashville?
Chattanooga State Community College, at $5,283 a year after aid versus $29,039 — a gap of $23,756 a year, or $105,590 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 Fortis Institute-Nashville graduates earn more?
Chattanooga State Community College graduates report a median $37,598 ten years after entry, $4,712 more than the $32,886 at Fortis Institute-Nashville. 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 Fortis Institute-Nashville?
Chattanooga State Community College: its completers carry a median $10,419 in federal loans versus $12,346 at Fortis Institute-Nashville, a difference of $1,927. 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?
43% of students finish at Fortis Institute-Nashville, 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.