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Most affordable community colleges in Tennessee

13 community colleges in Tennessee report net price data, ranging from $3,466 at the lowest to higher costs at more selective schools. The median net price across these is $6,519. Tennessee's community colleges cost about the same as the national average for the kind. The list below shows the most affordable options, ranked by net price.

Median net price in Tennessee

$6,519

National median for community colleges

$6,359

community colleges reporting in Tennessee

13

The most affordable community colleges in Tennessee, ranked by net price

1

Roane State Community College

TN

Net price

$3,466

Receive grant aid

97%

2

Southwest Tennessee Community College

TN

Net price

$5,078

Receive grant aid

92%

3

Walters State Community College

TN

Net price

$5,290

Receive grant aid

95%

4

Dyersburg State Community College

TN

Net price

$5,295

Receive grant aid

99%

5

Chattanooga State Community College

TN

Net price

$6,151

Receive grant aid

95%

6

Volunteer State Community College

TN

Net price

$6,483

Receive grant aid

91%

7

Nashville State Community College

TN

Net price

$6,519

Receive grant aid

89%

8

Pellissippi State Community College

TN

Net price

$6,692

Receive grant aid

93%

9

Northeast State Community College

TN

Net price

$6,819

Receive grant aid

96%

10

Cleveland State Community College

TN

Net price

$6,922

Receive grant aid

98%

11

Columbia State Community College

TN

Net price

$7,378

Receive grant aid

93%

12

Jackson State Community College

TN

Net price

$8,204

Receive grant aid

96%

13

Motlow State Community College

TN

Net price

$12,063

Receive grant aid

95%

What makes a school affordable here

In Tennessee, the most affordable community colleges share two things in common. First, low published net prices reflect both reasonable sticker prices and meaningful institutional or state aid. Second, a high share of students receive grant aid. At Roane State Community College, the most affordable on this list, 97% of students receive grant aid. Net price reflects what a typical family actually pays, not the sticker price you see at first glance. A school with a $50,000 sticker price and a $10,000 net price is more affordable for most families than a school with a $20,000 sticker and a $19,000 net price.

Affordable colleges in Tennessee, other types

Affordable community colleges in other states

Find your personalized cost

National rankings use publicly available federal cost data. Plug in your actual aid offer and family situation for a Worth-It Score that reflects your specific picture.

Affordability rankings use publicly available federal higher-ed cost data. Net price reflects the average cost a family pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from total cost of attendance, for the 2022-23 reporting year. See full methodology →