Head-to-head comparison
Tennessee State University vs Cleveland State Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Nashville, TN
Tennessee State University
- Net price / year
- $15,796
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,730
- 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 Tennessee State University comes closer — median earnings $42,730 against a $63,184 total, vs $36,671 at Cleveland State Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tennessee State University | Cleveland State Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,796 | $6,384 |
| Total net cost | $63,184 | $12,768 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,730 | $36,671 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $7,954 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$175,784 | -$246,548 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Tennessee State University or Cleveland State Community College?
Cleveland State Community College, at $6,384 a year after aid versus $15,796 — a gap of $9,412 a year, or $50,416 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 Tennessee State University or Cleveland State Community College graduates earn more?
Tennessee State University graduates report a median $42,730 ten years after entry, $6,059 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, Tennessee State University or Cleveland State Community College?
Cleveland State Community College: its completers carry a median $7,954 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Tennessee State University, a difference of $19,046. 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 34% at Tennessee State University. 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.