Head-to-head comparison
Chattanooga State Community College vs Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro-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 Hendersonville, TN
Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro-Nashville
- Net price / year
- $22,587
- Earnings, 10 years
- $30,461
- 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 $30,461 at Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro-Nashville. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Chattanooga State Community College | Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro-Nashville |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,283 | $22,587 |
| Total net cost | $10,566 | $90,348 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,598 | $30,461 |
| Median debt | $10,419 | $7,917 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$225,806 | -$448,328 |
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 Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro-Nashville?
Chattanooga State Community College, at $5,283 a year after aid versus $22,587 — a gap of $17,304 a year, or $79,782 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 Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro-Nashville graduates earn more?
Chattanooga State Community College graduates report a median $37,598 ten years after entry, $7,137 more than the $30,461 at Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro-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 Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro-Nashville?
Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro-Nashville: its completers carry a median $7,917 in federal loans versus $10,419 at Chattanooga State Community College, a difference of $2,502. 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?
74% of students finish at Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro-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.