Head-to-head · 2026
Nashville State Community College vs Southwest Tennessee Community College
Compare average net price ($6,777 at Nashville State Community College; $4,754 at Southwest Tennessee Community College), ROI score (14.21 vs 17.92), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($38,519 vs $34,071), and admissions context (Open / not reported at Nashville State Community College; Open / not reported at Southwest Tennessee Community College) using federal College Scorecard data. The table keeps affordability, outcomes, access and program fit separate rather than declaring one universal winner.
Face to face
Metric-by-metric comparison
13 metrics, side by side. Color marks a useful directional signal; admissions, SAT, tuition eligibility, ownership and enrollment stay neutral.
| Metric | Nashville State Community College | Southwest Tennessee Community College |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 14.21 | 17.92 ✓ |
| Avg net price | $6,777 | $4,754 ✓ |
| 4-year avg net price | $27,108 | $19,016 ✓ |
| In-state tuition | $4,730 | $4,778 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $17,714 | $17,750 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $38,519 ✓ | $34,071 |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | Open / not reported |
| Graduation rate | 18.5% | 19% ✓ |
| Retention rate | 44.1% | 45.7% ✓ |
| Median debt | $9,595 | — |
| Enrollment | 5,653 | 5,047 |
| Ownership | Public | Public |
| Avg SAT | — | — |
Cost by family income
Reported net price by income band
Federal averages for students receiving Title IV aid. These are context, not a substitute for either school's financial-aid offer.
| Income band | Nashville State Community College | Southwest Tennessee Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $6,326 | $4,286 ✓ |
| Family income $30–48k | $5,974 | $4,304 ✓ |
| Family income $48–75k | $7,746 | $6,567 ✓ |
| Family income $75–110k | $9,688 | $6,796 ✓ |
| Family income $110k+ | $12,195 | $6,815 ✓ |
Program fit
Shared fields with reported awards
Award share is the share of reported credentials in a field, not the share of currently enrolled students.
| Shared field | Nashville State Community College | Southwest Tennessee Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 48.8% | 53.9% |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 2.7% | 10.2% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 4% | 7.9% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 4.2% | 2.8% |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 3.3% | 1.3% |
| Legal Support Services | 3.3% | 1% |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | 2.2% | 1.9% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
Southwest Tennessee Community College reports the lower average net price by $2,023 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $8,092 difference over four years ($19,016 vs $27,108).
Nashville State Community College reports $4,448 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($38,519 vs $34,071). This is not earnings for a specific major.
First-year retention is 44.1% at Nashville State Community College and 45.7% at Southwest Tennessee Community College. Debt data is incomplete for at least one school, so it is not used as a deciding signal here.
8 of the strongest shared fields with positive award-share data are listed below. Award share describes reported credentials in a field, not the percentage of currently enrolled students.
Keep comparing
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Frequently asked
Nashville State Community College vs Southwest Tennessee Community College, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
Southwest Tennessee Community College is cheaper — average net price $4,754 per year vs $6,777 at Nashville State Community College. The annual difference of $2,023 adds up to about $8,092 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
Nashville State Community College reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $38,519 vs $34,071 at Southwest Tennessee Community College. The gap in the federal data is $4,448. This is not major-specific earnings.
Is there an overall winner?
No single metric makes either school the universal winner. Compare your actual aid offers, residency tuition, intended major, graduation and retention rates, debt, location and campus fit. EduGradify keeps these trade-offs separate instead of combining admissions selectivity and test scores into a final verdict.