Chattanooga State Community College
#5 Most Affordable Colleges in Tennessee- Graduation Rate
- 24% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $37,598 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $5,283 A
- 69% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 5,284
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 40.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $40.3 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Most Affordable Colleges in Tennessee.
Every $1 spent returns $40.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $830,931.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 24% — 58% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $40.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Chattanooga State Community College
Chattanooga State Community College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 5,284
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Chattanooga State Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $5,283 a year after grants and scholarships — 69% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $37,598 ten years after enrolling — 8% below the typical college, against $10,419 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 48% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.93 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Chattanooga State Community College serves about 5,284 students and stands out for its focus on practical fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Computer Science & IT. If you're looking for a community where you can dive into hands-on learning and gain skills that translate directly to the job market, this could be a good fit. The programs in Visual & Performing Arts and Humanities also attract those with a creative flair, making for a diverse learning environment.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $37,598 a year within ten years. This figure speaks volumes about the potential return on investment for those who complete their studies here. While the graduation rate sits at 24%, it’s essential to consider that many students transfer to four-year institutions or find their paths in the workforce earlier than expected. Affordability is key, too; with a net price of just $5,283, it remains accessible for many.
When we look at the numbers, the median debt for graduates is $10,419, which is manageable for most. About 36% of students rely on Pell Grants, indicating that financial assistance is vital for many here. This community tends to thrive on a blend of determination and practical goals, making it an ideal place for those who want to get a solid start without overwhelming financial burdens.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Chattanooga State Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Chattanooga State Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Chattanooga State Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 24%.
- Retention Rate
- 57%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 48%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,519
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.55
- First-Gen Students
- 46%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Chattanooga State Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Chattanooga State Community College is $17,756, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $5,283. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,369 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,419 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,772
- Out-of-State
- $17,756
- Avg Net Price
- $5,283
- Median Debt
- $10,419
- Pell Grant Rate
- 36%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 13%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $4,369
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $4,920
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,708
- Family Income $110K+
- $7,201
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Chattanooga State Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Chattanooga State Community College report median earnings of $37,598, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,711
- 8 Years
- $36,185
- 10 Years
- $37,598
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.28x
- Earning > $25K
- 46%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (205)
- 12%
- 100% (205)
- 12%
- 100% (205)
- 12%
- 100% (205)
- 12%
How Chattanooga Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Chattanooga State Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Chattanooga State Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $5,283/year ($21,132 total). Graduates earn $37,598 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $852,063 in total earnings — a net gain of $830,931 (40.3× your investment). The median debt is $10,419, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 24% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $21,132
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $852,063
- Net Return
- $830,931
- ROI Multiple
- 40.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $5,283
- Median Debt
- $10,419
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 24%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Chattanooga State Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Chattanooga State Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.51%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 16% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $61,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.51%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 9.4%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 16.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $61,800
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $5,927,850
- Federal Grants
- $1,704,582
- Investment Income
- $96,069
Top Programs
The fields Chattanooga State Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Humanities 33%
- Health Professions 32%
- Business & Marketing 8%
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
- Computer Science & IT 3%
- Engineering 2%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 2%
- Education 1%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Chattanooga State Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Chattanooga State Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Chattanooga State Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 24%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Chattanooga State Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Chattanooga State Community College is $17,756, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $5,283. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,369 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,419 in federal student loans.
Is Chattanooga State Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Chattanooga State Community College report median earnings of $37,598, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Chattanooga State Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Chattanooga State Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.51%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 16% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $61,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Chattanooga State Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Chattanooga State Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.93, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Chattanooga State Community College.
- New Mexico State University-Dona AnaLas Cruces, NM · Close peer17% grad $39,067 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Springfield Technical Community CollegeSpringfield, MA · Close peer29% grad $36,966 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Bristol Community CollegeFall River, MA · Close peer22% grad $38,663 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- CUNY Hostos Community CollegeBronx, NY · Close peer17% grad $40,485 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Mott Community CollegeFlint, MI · Close peer26% grad $32,538 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- McLennan Community CollegeWaco, TX · Close peer37% grad $39,163 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Chattanooga State Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Chattanooga State Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.93, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note