Head-to-head · 2026
Southwest Tennessee Community College vs Walters State Community College
Compare average net price ($4,754 at Southwest Tennessee Community College; $5,387 at Walters State Community College), ROI score (17.92 vs 17.21), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($34,071 vs $37,085), and admissions context (Open / not reported at Southwest Tennessee Community College; Open / not reported at Walters State 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 | Southwest Tennessee Community College | Walters State Community College |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 17.92 ✓ | 17.21 |
| Avg net price | $4,754 ✓ | $5,387 |
| 4-year avg net price | $19,016 ✓ | $21,548 |
| In-state tuition | $4,778 | $4,752 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $17,750 | $17,736 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $34,071 | $37,085 ✓ |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | Open / not reported |
| Graduation rate | 19% | 33.3% ✓ |
| Retention rate | 45.7% | 53% ✓ |
| Median debt | — | — |
| Enrollment | 5,047 | 3,591 |
| 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 | Southwest Tennessee Community College | Walters State Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $4,286 ✓ | $4,826 |
| Family income $30–48k | $4,304 ✓ | $5,087 |
| Family income $48–75k | $6,567 | $6,453 ✓ |
| Family income $75–110k | $6,796 ✓ | $7,763 |
| Family income $110k+ | $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 | Southwest Tennessee Community College | Walters State Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 53.9% | 49.5% |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 7.9% | 7.8% |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 1.1% | 12.4% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 4.4% | 4.5% |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | 1.9% | 2.9% |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 2.8% | 1% |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 1.3% | 1.4% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
Southwest Tennessee Community College reports the lower average net price by $633 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $2,532 difference over four years ($19,016 vs $21,548).
Walters State Community College reports $3,014 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($37,085 vs $34,071). This is not earnings for a specific major.
First-year retention is 45.7% at Southwest Tennessee Community College and 53% at Walters State 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
Southwest Tennessee Community College vs Walters State 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 $5,387 at Walters State Community College. The annual difference of $633 adds up to about $2,532 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
Walters State Community College reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $37,085 vs $34,071 at Southwest Tennessee Community College. The gap in the federal data is $3,014. 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.