Cleveland State Community College
#7 Most Affordable Colleges in Tennessee- Graduation Rate
- 33% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $36,671 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $6,384 A-
- 63% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,975
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 32.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $32.0 over 20 years. Ranked #7 in Most Affordable Colleges in Tennessee.
Every $1 spent returns $32.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $790,512.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 33% — 43% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $32.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Cleveland State Community College Matters
Cleveland State Community College is a public community college in Cleveland, TN and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
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
- 1,975
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Cleveland 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 $6,384 a year after grants and scholarships — 63% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $36,671 ten years after enrolling — 10% below the typical college, against $7,954 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 43% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.09 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Cleveland State Community College is a solid choice for students looking for an accessible path into higher education. With around 1,975 students, it maintains a close-knit community feel. Those interested in a variety of fields, including Humanities, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Criminal Justice, and Computer Science & IT, will find programs that can set them up for success in their chosen careers.
After graduation, students can expect to earn about $36,671 within ten years. This figure highlights the potential for a decent income as they step into the workforce. The affordability of the college is also a major advantage, with a net price around $6,384 after financial aid. For many, this means that starting a career doesn't come with overwhelming debt, as the median debt for graduates is just $7,954.
The practical aspects of attending Cleveland State are encouraging for prospective students. With a relatively low cost of attendance and manageable debt, it’s a place where individuals who are motivated and ready to work can thrive. The college attracts those who are looking for a supportive environment to grow academically and professionally, making it a fitting choice for many.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Cleveland 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 Cleveland State Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Cleveland State Community College, located in Cleveland, Tennessee, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 33%.
- Retention Rate
- 52%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 38%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,052
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 20:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.41
- First-Gen Students
- 51%
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 Cleveland State Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Cleveland State Community College is $17,746, 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 $6,384. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,538 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $7,954 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,762
- Out-of-State
- $17,746
- Avg Net Price
- $6,384
- Median Debt
- $7,954
- Pell Grant Rate
- 27%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 6%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $5,538
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $5,872
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $7,356
- Family Income $110K+
- $11,664
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Cleveland State Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Cleveland State Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Cleveland State Community College report median earnings of $36,671, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,359
- 8 Years
- $34,876
- 10 Years
- $36,671
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.22x
- Earning > $25K
- 45%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (169)
- 24%
- 100% (169)
- 24%
- 100% (169)
- 24%
- 100% (169)
- 24%
How Cleveland 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 Cleveland State Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Cleveland State Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,384/year ($25,536 total). Graduates earn $36,671 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $816,048 in total earnings — a net gain of $790,512 (32.0× your investment). The median debt is $7,954, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 33% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $25,536
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $816,048
- Net Return
- $790,512
- ROI Multiple
- 32.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $6,384
- Median Debt
- $7,954
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 33%
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 Cleveland State Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Cleveland 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 1.60%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.3% 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 12.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $64,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.60%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 12.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 13.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $87,905
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $5,212,494
- Federal Grants
- $2,769,904
- Investment Income
- $24,088
Top Programs
The fields Cleveland State Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 35%
- Health Professions 16% $57,653 early-career
- Business & Marketing 14% $36,992 early-career
- Criminal Justice 9% $45,922 early-career
- Precision Production 2%
- Computer Science & IT 2%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Cleveland 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
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Cleveland State Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Cleveland State Community College, located in Cleveland, Tennessee, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 33%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Cleveland State Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Cleveland State Community College is $17,746, 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 $6,384. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,538 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $7,954 in federal student loans.
Is Cleveland State Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Cleveland State Community College report median earnings of $36,671, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Cleveland State Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Cleveland 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 1.60%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.3% 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 12.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $64,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Cleveland 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 above average at Cleveland State Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.09, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Cleveland State Community College.
- South Piedmont Community CollegePolkton, NC · Close peer37% grad $37,308 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Northern Oklahoma CollegeTonkawa, OK · Close peer44% grad $37,566 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- BridgeValley Community & Technical CollegeSouth Charleston, WV · Close peer30% grad $36,432 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Howard CollegeBig Spring, TX · Close peer35% grad $38,382 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Paris Junior CollegeParis, TX · Close peer37% grad $36,515 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lake Michigan CollegeBenton Harbor, MI · Close peer22% grad $34,466 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Cleveland 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 above average at Cleveland State Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.09, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note