Chattanooga State Community College vs Tennessee Wesleyan University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Tennessee Wesleyan University comes closer — median earnings $45,989 against a $59,344 total, vs $37,598 at Chattanooga State Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Chattanooga State Community College | Tennessee Wesleyan University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,283 | $14,836 |
| Total net cost | $10,566 | $59,344 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,598 | $45,989 |
| Median debt | $10,419 | $20,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$225,806 | -$106,764 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Chattanooga State Community College or Tennessee Wesleyan University?
Chattanooga State Community College, at $5,283 a year after aid versus $14,836 — a gap of $9,553 a year, or $48,778 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 Wesleyan University graduates earn more?
Tennessee Wesleyan University graduates report a median $45,989 ten years after entry, $8,391 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 Tennessee Wesleyan University?
Chattanooga State Community College: its completers carry a median $10,419 in federal loans versus $20,000 at Tennessee Wesleyan University, a difference of $9,581. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
48% of students finish at Tennessee Wesleyan University, 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.