Chattanooga State Community College vs The University of Tennessee Southern: 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 $38,924 at The University of Tennessee Southern. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Chattanooga State Community College | The University of Tennessee Southern |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,283 | $12,798 |
| Total net cost | $10,566 | $51,192 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,598 | $38,924 |
| Median debt | $10,419 | $21,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$225,806 | -$239,912 |
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 Southern?
Chattanooga State Community College, at $5,283 a year after aid versus $12,798 — a gap of $7,515 a year, or $40,626 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 Southern graduates earn more?
The University of Tennessee Southern graduates report a median $38,924 ten years after entry, $1,326 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 Southern?
Chattanooga State Community College: its completers carry a median $10,419 in federal loans versus $21,500 at The University of Tennessee Southern, a difference of $11,081. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
37% of students finish at The University of Tennessee Southern, 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.