Head-to-head comparison
Cleveland State Community College vs Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest: which has better ROI?
Option A Cleveland, TN
Cleveland State Community College
- Net price / year
- $6,384
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,671
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Newbern, TN
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest
- Net price / year
- $9,698
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,514
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest comes closer — median earnings $38,514 against a $38,792 total, vs $36,671 at Cleveland State Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cleveland State Community College | Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,384 | $9,698 |
| Total net cost | $12,768 | $38,792 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,671 | $38,514 |
| Median debt | $7,954 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$246,548 | -$235,712 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Cleveland State Community College or Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest?
Cleveland State Community College, at $6,384 a year after aid versus $9,698 — a gap of $3,314 a year, or $26,024 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 Cleveland State Community College or Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest graduates earn more?
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest graduates report a median $38,514 ten years after entry, $1,843 more than the $36,671 at Cleveland 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 graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest, against 37% at Cleveland 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.