Columbia State Community College vs Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbia State Community College comes closer — median earnings $40,256 against a $9,468 total, vs $25,954 at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia State Community College | Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,734 | $33,625 |
| Total net cost | $9,468 | $134,500 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,256 | $25,954 |
| Median debt | $8,500 | $7,891 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$171,548 | -$582,620 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Columbia State Community College or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers?
Columbia State Community College, at $4,734 a year after aid versus $33,625 — a gap of $28,891 a year, or $125,032 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Columbia State Community College or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers graduates earn more?
Columbia State Community College graduates report a median $40,256 ten years after entry, $14,302 more than the $25,954 at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers. 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, Columbia State Community College or Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers?
Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers: its completers carry a median $7,891 in federal loans versus $8,500 at Columbia State Community College, a difference of $609. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
30% of students finish at Columbia State Community College, against 12% at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers. 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.