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Chattanooga State Community College
Chattanooga, TN 5,284 Undergrads 28.0% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$13,348
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$5,283
After Aid
Median Earnings
$48,364
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$5,283
Peer Midpoint: $9,847
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$48,364
Peer Midpoint: $50,127.5
Graduation Rate28.0%
Peer Midpoint: 34.6%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients48.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time57.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS56.9%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$516k
+$713
+$32k
Median Cost$5k/yr
+$507k
-$9k
+$22k
Full Cost$13k/yr
+$492k
-$24k
+$7k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
35
∞
Median Cost$5k/yr
39
229%
Full Cost$13k/yr
52
30%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return175%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return7%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Certificates
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
CertCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (4yr)
$38,622
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
CertCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$9,375
Earnings (4yr)
$57,020
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services
CertCIP: 0106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
CertCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$35,282
Natl Median: $32,681
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
CertCIP: 1204
Median Debt
$7,198
Earnings (4yr)
$25,704
Natl Median: $26,307
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1513
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
CertCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$26,274
Natl Median: $31,337
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
CertCIP: 4603
Median Debt
$5,079
Earnings (4yr)
$54,576
Natl Median: $53,078
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,361
Natl Median: $43,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Ground Transportation
CertCIP: 4902
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (4yr)
$42,911
Natl Median: $52,118
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$28,487
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
CertCIP: 4702
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,846
Natl Median: $48,148
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,366
Natl Median: $62,199
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
CertCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,135
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Legal Support Services
CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$7,704
Earnings (4yr)
$55,124
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
$3,933
Earnings (4yr)
$50,184
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services
CertCIP: 5135
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$24,429
Natl Median: $29,652
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$5,415
Earnings (4yr)
$41,096
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Associate's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,158
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,050
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$15,150
Earnings (4yr)
$45,111
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Community Organization and Advocacy
AssocCIP: 4402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,066
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$13,595
Earnings (4yr)
$57,028
Natl Median: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$12,698
Earnings (4yr)
$41,033
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Design and Applied Arts
AssocCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$9,288
Earnings (4yr)
$36,691
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Education, General
AssocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,787
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,832
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
AssocCIP: 1500
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,171
Natl Median: $62,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$164k
Engineering, General
AssocCIP: 1401
Median Debt
$13,125
Earnings (4yr)
$81,335
Natl Median: $72,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$328k
Fire Protection
AssocCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,821
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
AssocCIP: 5199
Median Debt
$16,422
Earnings (4yr)
$41,951
Natl Median: $48,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 5100
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,097
Natl Median: $51,180
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Hospitality Administration/Management
AssocCIP: 5209
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Legal Support Services
AssocCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,117
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$10,243
Earnings (4yr)
$43,457
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
AssocCIP: 3000
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,709
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
AssocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,056
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (4yr)
$72,920
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$253k
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 0183
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$31,289
Natl Median: $41,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.