Head-to-head comparison
Nashville State Community College vs Tennessee State University: 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 Nashville, TN
Tennessee State University
- Net price / year
- $15,796
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,730
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Tennessee State University comes closer — median earnings $42,730 against a $63,184 total, vs $38,519 at Nashville State Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Nashville State Community College | Tennessee State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,777 | $15,796 |
| Total net cost | $13,554 | $63,184 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,519 | $42,730 |
| Median debt | $9,595 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$210,374 | -$175,784 |
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 Tennessee State University?
Nashville State Community College, at $6,777 a year after aid versus $15,796 — a gap of $9,019 a year, or $49,630 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 Tennessee State University graduates earn more?
Tennessee State University graduates report a median $42,730 ten years after entry, $4,211 more than the $38,519 at Nashville 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 Tennessee State University?
Nashville State Community College: its completers carry a median $9,595 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Tennessee State University, a difference of $17,405. 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?
34% of students finish at Tennessee State University, 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.