Chattanooga State Community College vs The University of Tennessee-Martin: which has better ROI?
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 $37,598 at Chattanooga State Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Chattanooga State Community College | The University of Tennessee-Martin |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,283 | $10,701 |
| Total net cost | $10,566 | $42,804 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,598 | $44,213 |
| Median debt | $10,419 | $21,024 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$225,806 | -$125,744 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Chattanooga State Community College or The University of Tennessee-Martin?
Chattanooga State Community College, at $5,283 a year after aid versus $10,701 — a gap of $5,418 a year, or $32,238 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 The University of Tennessee-Martin graduates earn more?
The University of Tennessee-Martin graduates report a median $44,213 ten years after entry, $6,615 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 The University of Tennessee-Martin?
Chattanooga State Community College: its completers carry a median $10,419 in federal loans versus $21,024 at The University of Tennessee-Martin, a difference of $10,605. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
53% of students finish at The University of Tennessee-Martin, 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.