At $6,183/yr net price, Cleveland State Community College graduates earn $36,671/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $2,671/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $6,183 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $24,732 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $36,671/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$2,671/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 9.3 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 29.0% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $7,954 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $5,338/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $5,340/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $7,867/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $8,787/yr |
| $110,001+ | $10,168/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $48,522 | |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Certificate | $38,649 | |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians. | Associate | $34,526 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Associate | $31,133 | $8,750 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Certificate | $23,456 | |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services. | Associate | $23,233 | |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Associate | $21,417 | $8,125 |
The Risk Factor
29.0% of students at Cleveland State Community College graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
Cleveland State Community College gives you a low-cost entry with modest returns. At just over $6,000 a year in net price and under $8,000 in median debt, you're not taking on much financial risk. But median earnings ten years out sit below $37,000, so this is a school where the payoff depends heavily on what you study.
Nursing is the clear winner. The associate degree in registered nursing pays around $48,500, roughly $17,000 more than the business administration associate and more than double the allied health certificate. If you come here for nursing, the math works: strong Tennessee demand for nurses, a two-year credential, and low debt. Industrial production technology also clears the school's median, which fits Cleveland's manufacturing base.
The weaker end is real. The business administration associate pays about $31,000 while carrying the highest listed debt at $8,750. The allied health certificate pays under $24,000, close to what you might earn without the credential. Choose one of these and you may not see much financial lift.
The biggest risk here is finishing at all. Only 29% of students graduate. If you enroll, pay, and leave without a credential, you carry the cost with none of the earnings bump the completed programs provide.
On price by income: if your family earns under $48,000, you pay around $5,300 a year, the best deal here. Above $75,000, net price climbs past $8,700 and tops $10,000 over $110,000. At those levels, weigh this against transferring the credits to a four-year school.
This school fits you if you want nursing or a manufacturing technical path, want low debt, and will finish. Look elsewhere if you're chasing high earnings from the business or allied health certificate tracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cleveland State Community College worth the money?
Cleveland State Community College offers decent value at $6,183 per year, but the 29% graduation rate is concerning. Nursing programs show strong ROI with graduates earning $48,522, while other programs often don't justify even the low cost.
What programs at Cleveland State Community College have the best job prospects?
Registered Nursing graduates from Cleveland State Community College earn around $48,522 annually, making it the clear winner for ROI. Criminal Justice graduates earn $38,649, but most other programs lead to below-average wages that may not cover opportunity costs.
How much debt do Cleveland State Community College students graduate with?
Cleveland State Community College graduates carry a median debt of $7,954, which is manageable compared to four-year schools. However, with average earnings of just $36,671 ten years after enrollment, even this modest debt can be challenging to repay.
What is the graduation rate at Cleveland State Community College?
Only 29% of students graduate from Cleveland State Community College, meaning most students leave without credentials. This low completion rate significantly undermines the school's value proposition, even at its affordable price point.