Head-to-head comparison
Columbia State Community College vs Cleveland State Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Columbia, TN
Columbia State Community College
- Net price / year
- $4,734
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,256
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Cleveland, TN
Cleveland State Community College
- Net price / year
- $6,384
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,671
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbia State Community College comes closer — median earnings $40,256 against a $9,468 total, vs $36,671 at Cleveland State Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia State Community College | Cleveland State Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,734 | $6,384 |
| Total net cost | $9,468 | $12,768 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,256 | $36,671 |
| Median debt | $8,500 | $7,954 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$171,548 | -$246,548 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Columbia State Community College or Cleveland State Community College?
Columbia State Community College, at $4,734 a year after aid versus $6,384 — a gap of $1,650 a year, or $3,300 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 Columbia State Community College or Cleveland State Community College graduates earn more?
Columbia State Community College graduates report a median $40,256 ten years after entry, $3,585 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 leaves students with less debt, Columbia State Community College or Cleveland State Community College?
Cleveland State Community College: its completers carry a median $7,954 in federal loans versus $8,500 at Columbia State Community College, a difference of $546. 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?
37% of students finish at Cleveland State Community College, against 30% at Columbia 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.