Chattanooga State Community College vs Columbia State Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbia State Community College comes closer — median earnings $40,256 against a $9,468 total, vs $37,598 at Chattanooga State Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Chattanooga State Community College | Columbia State Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,283 | $4,734 |
| Total net cost | $10,566 | $9,468 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,598 | $40,256 |
| Median debt | $10,419 | $8,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$225,806 | -$171,548 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Chattanooga State Community College or Columbia State Community College?
Columbia State Community College, at $4,734 a year after aid versus $5,283 — a gap of $549 a year, or $1,098 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Chattanooga State Community College or Columbia State Community College graduates earn more?
Columbia State Community College graduates report a median $40,256 ten years after entry, $2,658 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.
Which leaves students with less debt, Chattanooga State Community College or Columbia State Community College?
Columbia State Community College: its completers carry a median $8,500 in federal loans versus $10,419 at Chattanooga State Community College, a difference of $1,919. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
30% of students finish at Columbia 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.