Chattanooga State Community College vs Tennessee College of Applied Technology Crump: 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 $30,796 at Tennessee College of Applied Technology Crump. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Chattanooga State Community College | Tennessee College of Applied Technology Crump |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,283 | -$839 |
| Total net cost | $10,566 | -$3,356 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,598 | $30,796 |
| Median debt | $10,419 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$225,806 | -$347,924 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Chattanooga State Community College or Tennessee College of Applied Technology Crump?
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Crump, at -$839 a year after aid versus $5,283 — a gap of $6,122 a year, or $13,922 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 Tennessee College of Applied Technology Crump graduates earn more?
Chattanooga State Community College graduates report a median $37,598 ten years after entry, $6,802 more than the $30,796 at Tennessee College of Applied Technology Crump. 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?
63% of students finish at Tennessee College of Applied Technology Crump, 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.