Head-to-head comparison
Chattanooga State Community College vs Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga: 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 Chattanooga, TN
Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga
- Net price / year
- $23,958
- Earnings, 10 years
- $31,102
- 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 $31,102 at Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Chattanooga State Community College | Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,283 | $23,958 |
| Total net cost | $10,566 | $47,916 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,598 | $31,102 |
| Median debt | $10,419 | $15,917 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$225,806 | -$393,076 |
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 Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga?
Chattanooga State Community College, at $5,283 a year after aid versus $23,958 — a gap of $18,675 a year, or $37,350 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 Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga graduates earn more?
Chattanooga State Community College graduates report a median $37,598 ten years after entry, $6,496 more than the $31,102 at Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga. 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 Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga?
Chattanooga State Community College: its completers carry a median $10,419 in federal loans versus $15,917 at Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga, a difference of $5,498. 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?
60% of students finish at Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga, 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.