Head-to-head comparison
The University of Tennessee-Martin vs Cleveland State Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Martin, TN
The University of Tennessee-Martin
- Net price / year
- $10,701
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,213
- 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 The University of Tennessee-Martin comes closer — median earnings $44,213 against a $42,804 total, vs $36,671 at Cleveland State Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | The University of Tennessee-Martin | Cleveland State Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,701 | $6,384 |
| Total net cost | $42,804 | $12,768 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,213 | $36,671 |
| Median debt | $21,024 | $7,954 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$125,744 | -$246,548 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, The University of Tennessee-Martin or Cleveland State Community College?
Cleveland State Community College, at $6,384 a year after aid versus $10,701 — a gap of $4,317 a year, or $30,036 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 The University of Tennessee-Martin or Cleveland State Community College graduates earn more?
The University of Tennessee-Martin graduates report a median $44,213 ten years after entry, $7,542 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, The University of Tennessee-Martin or Cleveland State Community College?
Cleveland State Community College: its completers carry a median $7,954 in federal loans versus $21,024 at The University of Tennessee-Martin, a difference of $13,070. 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?
53% of students finish at The University of Tennessee-Martin, against 37% at Cleveland 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.