Chattanooga State Community College vs Southwest Tennessee Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Chattanooga State Community College comes closer — median earnings $37,598 against a $10,566 total, vs $34,071 at Southwest Tennessee Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Chattanooga State Community College | Southwest Tennessee Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,283 | $4,754 |
| Total net cost | $10,566 | $9,508 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,598 | $34,071 |
| Median debt | $10,419 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$225,806 | -$295,288 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Chattanooga State Community College or Southwest Tennessee Community College?
Southwest Tennessee Community College, at $4,754 a year after aid versus $5,283 — a gap of $529 a year, or $1,058 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 Southwest Tennessee Community College graduates earn more?
Chattanooga State Community College graduates report a median $37,598 ten years after entry, $3,527 more than the $34,071 at Southwest Tennessee 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 graduates more of its students?
26% of students finish at Chattanooga State Community College, against 19% at Southwest Tennessee 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.