Nashville State Community College vs Bethel University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bethel University comes closer — median earnings $47,482 against a $50,380 total, vs $38,519 at Nashville State Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Nashville State Community College | Bethel University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,777 | $12,595 |
| Total net cost | $13,554 | $50,380 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,519 | $47,482 |
| Median debt | $9,595 | $27,249 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$210,374 | -$67,940 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Nashville State Community College or Bethel University?
Nashville State Community College, at $6,777 a year after aid versus $12,595 — a gap of $5,818 a year, or $36,826 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Nashville State Community College or Bethel University graduates earn more?
Bethel University graduates report a median $47,482 ten years after entry, $8,963 more than the $38,519 at Nashville 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, Nashville State Community College or Bethel University?
Nashville State Community College: its completers carry a median $9,595 in federal loans versus $27,249 at Bethel University, a difference of $17,654. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
35% of students finish at Bethel University, against 18% at Nashville 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.