Head-to-head comparison
Nashville State Community College vs Chattanooga State Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Nashville, TN
Nashville State Community College
- Net price / year
- $6,777
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,519
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga State Community College
- Net price / year
- $5,283
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,598
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Nashville State Community College comes closer — median earnings $38,519 against a $13,554 total, vs $37,598 at Chattanooga State Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Nashville State Community College | Chattanooga State Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,777 | $5,283 |
| Total net cost | $13,554 | $10,566 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,519 | $37,598 |
| Median debt | $9,595 | $10,419 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$210,374 | -$225,806 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Nashville State Community College or Chattanooga State Community College?
Chattanooga State Community College, at $5,283 a year after aid versus $6,777 — a gap of $1,494 a year, or $2,988 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 Nashville State Community College or Chattanooga State Community College graduates earn more?
Nashville State Community College graduates report a median $38,519 ten years after entry, $921 more than the $37,598 at Chattanooga 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, Nashville State Community College or Chattanooga State Community College?
Nashville State Community College: its completers carry a median $9,595 in federal loans versus $10,419 at Chattanooga State Community College, a difference of $824. 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?
26% of students finish at Chattanooga State Community College, against 18% at Nashville 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.