Cleveland State Community College vs Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville: which has better ROI?
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 $37,235 at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cleveland State Community College | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,384 | $20,012 |
| Total net cost | $12,768 | $80,048 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,671 | $37,235 |
| Median debt | $7,954 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$246,548 | -$302,548 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Cleveland State Community College or Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville?
Cleveland State Community College, at $6,384 a year after aid versus $20,012 — a gap of $13,628 a year, or $67,280 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 Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville graduates earn more?
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville graduates report a median $37,235 ten years after entry, $564 more than the $36,671 at Cleveland 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 graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville, against 37% at Cleveland 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.