Roane State Community College
#1 Most Affordable Colleges in Tennessee- Graduation Rate
- 34% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $39,407 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $4,270 A
- 75% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 3,250
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 55.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $55.2 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Most Affordable Colleges in Tennessee.
Every $1 spent returns $55.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $925,380.
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 34% — 40% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $55.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Roane State Community College Matters
Roane State Community College is a public community college in Harriman, 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
- 3,250
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Roane 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 $4,270 a year after grants and scholarships — 75% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $39,407 ten years after enrolling — 3% below the typical college, against $8,454 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 69% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.08 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Roane State Community College in Harriman, Tennessee, has an enrollment of about 3,250 students, making it a more intimate space for learning and growth. This college is a good fit for those interested in fields like Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, and Computer Science & IT. Students here appreciate the supportive environment that encourages engagement and practical skills development.
Looking at life after graduation, students earn a median salary of around $39,407 ten years after completing their degrees. This number is significant as it reflects the potential for upward mobility, especially when considering the affordability of education here. With a net price of $4,270 after financial aid, many find that they can pursue their goals without incurring overwhelming debt.
On the financial side, graduates leave with a median debt of $8,454, which is manageable compared to many institutions. This affordability makes Roane State an attractive option for those who want to enter the workforce without a heavy financial burden. Students who thrive here typically value a practical approach to education, aiming for a balance between academic growth and real-world application.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Roane 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 Roane State Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Roane State Community College, located in Harriman, Tennessee, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 34%.
- Retention Rate
- 58%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 39%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,139
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.28
- First-Gen Students
- 50%
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 Roane State Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Roane State Community College is $18,630, 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 $4,270. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,444 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,454 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,998
- Out-of-State
- $18,630
- Avg Net Price
- $4,270
- Median Debt
- $8,454
- Pell Grant Rate
- 28%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 4%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $3,444
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $3,636
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $5,220
- Family Income $110K+
- $10,354
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 Roane 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 Roane State Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Roane State Community College report median earnings of $39,407, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,926
- 8 Years
- $35,889
- 10 Years
- $39,407
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.21x
- Earning > $25K
- 48%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (177)
- 17%
- 100% (177)
- 17%
- 100% (177)
- 17%
- 100% (177)
- 17%
How Roane 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 Roane State Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Roane State Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $4,270/year ($17,080 total). Graduates earn $39,407 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $942,460 in total earnings — a net gain of $925,380 (55.2× your investment). The median debt is $8,454, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 34% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $17,080
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $942,460
- Net Return
- $925,380
- ROI Multiple
- 55.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $4,270
- Median Debt
- $8,454
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 34%
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 Roane State Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Roane State Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.12%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 16.7% 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 6.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $59,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.12%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 6.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 16.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $81,111
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $4,294,882
- Investment Income
- $66,486
Top Programs
The fields Roane 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 44%
- Health Professions 33% $56,850 early-career
- Business & Marketing 6% $29,247 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 2%
- Education 1%
- Criminal Justice 1%
- Legal Studies 0%
- Social Sciences 0%
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 Roane 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 Roane State Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Roane State Community College, located in Harriman, Tennessee, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 34%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Roane State Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Roane State Community College is $18,630, 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 $4,270. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,444 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,454 in federal student loans.
Is Roane State Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Roane State Community College report median earnings of $39,407, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Roane State Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Roane State Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.12%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 16.7% 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 6.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $59,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Roane 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 Roane State Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.08, 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 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Roane State Community College.
- Leeward Community CollegePearl City, HI · Close peer33% grad $39,899 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Columbia State Community CollegeColumbia, TN · Close peer30% grad $40,256 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Kellogg Community CollegeBattle Creek, MI · Close peer28% grad $38,329 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Walters State Community CollegeMorristown, TN · Close peer35% grad $37,085 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Piedmont Virginia Community CollegeCharlottesville, VA · Close peer37% grad $40,752 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Kilgore CollegeKilgore, TX · Close peer36% grad $37,975 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Roane 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 Roane State Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.08, 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 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note