South College vs Chattanooga State Community College: 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 $36,642 at South College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | South College | Chattanooga State Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,858 | $5,283 |
| Total net cost | $35,716 | $10,566 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,642 | $37,598 |
| Median debt | $18,668 | $10,419 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$270,076 | -$225,806 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, South College or Chattanooga State Community College?
Chattanooga State Community College, at $5,283 a year after aid versus $17,858 — a gap of $12,575 a year, or $25,150 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do South College or Chattanooga State Community College graduates earn more?
Chattanooga State Community College graduates report a median $37,598 ten years after entry, $956 more than the $36,642 at South 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, South College or Chattanooga State Community College?
Chattanooga State Community College: its completers carry a median $10,419 in federal loans versus $18,668 at South College, a difference of $8,249. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
42% of students finish at South College, 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.