The University of Tennessee-Martin vs Cleveland State Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but The University of Tennessee-Martin comes closer — median earnings $44,213 against a $42,804 total, vs $36,671 at Cleveland State Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | The University of Tennessee-Martin | Cleveland State Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,701 | $6,384 |
| Total net cost | $42,804 | $12,768 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,213 | $36,671 |
| Median debt | $21,024 | $7,954 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$125,744 | -$246,548 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, The University of Tennessee-Martin or Cleveland State Community College?
Cleveland State Community College, at $6,384 a year after aid versus $10,701 — a gap of $4,317 a year, or $30,036 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do The University of Tennessee-Martin or Cleveland State Community College graduates earn more?
The University of Tennessee-Martin graduates report a median $44,213 ten years after entry, $7,542 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 leaves students with less debt, The University of Tennessee-Martin or Cleveland State Community College?
Cleveland State Community College: its completers carry a median $7,954 in federal loans versus $21,024 at The University of Tennessee-Martin, a difference of $13,070. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
53% of students finish at The University of Tennessee-Martin, 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.