Degree Dividend
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Cleveland State Community College vs Le Moyne-Owen College: which has better ROI?

Public, Cleveland TN · vs · Private nonprofit, Memphis TN

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cleveland State Community College comes closer — median earnings $36,671 against a $12,768 total, vs $35,594 at Le Moyne-Owen College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureCleveland State Community CollegeLe Moyne-Owen College
Net price / yr$6,384$7,099
Total net cost$12,768$28,396
Median earnings, 10 yrs$36,671$35,594
Median debt$7,954$28,070
Payback
20-year net return-$246,548-$283,716

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Cleveland State Community College or Le Moyne-Owen College?

Cleveland State Community College, at $6,384 a year after aid versus $7,099 — a gap of $715 a year, or $15,628 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Cleveland State Community College or Le Moyne-Owen College graduates earn more?

Cleveland State Community College graduates report a median $36,671 ten years after entry, $1,077 more than the $35,594 at Le Moyne-Owen 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, Cleveland State Community College or Le Moyne-Owen College?

Cleveland State Community College: its completers carry a median $7,954 in federal loans versus $28,070 at Le Moyne-Owen College, a difference of $20,116. 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 Cleveland State Community College, against 27% at Le Moyne-Owen 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.

Cleveland State Community College vs Le Moyne-Owen College: frequently asked questions

Is Cleveland State Community College or Le Moyne-Owen College a better value?
Cleveland State Community College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Cleveland State Community College or Le Moyne-Owen College?
Cleveland State Community College: $6,384/yr net price after aid versus $7,099/yr at Le Moyne-Owen College — a difference of $715 a year, or about $15,628 over four years.
Do Cleveland State Community College or Le Moyne-Owen College graduates earn more?
Cleveland State Community College graduates earn a median $36,671 ten years after entry, versus $35,594 at Le Moyne-Owen College — a $1,077 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.