Head-to-head comparison
Pellissippi State Community College vs Chattanooga State Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Knoxville, TN
Pellissippi State Community College
- Net price / year
- $4,983
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,440
- 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 Pellissippi State Community College comes closer — median earnings $38,440 against a $9,966 total, vs $37,598 at Chattanooga State Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pellissippi State Community College | Chattanooga State Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,983 | $5,283 |
| Total net cost | $9,966 | $10,566 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,440 | $37,598 |
| Median debt | $8,725 | $10,419 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$208,366 | -$225,806 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Pellissippi State Community College or Chattanooga State Community College?
Pellissippi State Community College, at $4,983 a year after aid versus $5,283 — a gap of $300 a year, or $600 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 Pellissippi State Community College or Chattanooga State Community College graduates earn more?
Pellissippi State Community College graduates report a median $38,440 ten years after entry, $842 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, Pellissippi State Community College or Chattanooga State Community College?
Pellissippi State Community College: its completers carry a median $8,725 in federal loans versus $10,419 at Chattanooga State Community College, a difference of $1,694. 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?
31% of students finish at Pellissippi State Community College, 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.