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Chattanooga, Tennessee (2023)Photo: WeaponizingArchitecture · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Chattanooga

Chattanooga is home to five colleges, with about 16,000 students on campus

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (10,079 students on campus) and Chattanooga State Community College (4,824) are inside the city. About 6% of Chattanooga’s residents are enrolled in college, above Tennessee (5%).

Chattanooga State Community CollegeThe University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Chattanooga. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
7
19,567 students on campus
Nearest college
2.4 mi
Chattanooga State
Residents in college
6%
Above TN (5%)
Nearest community college
2.4 mi
Chattanooga State · $4,772 tuition
Nearest public university
3.2 mi
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · $10,448 in-state
Median household income
$65K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Chattanooga

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Two colleges within 3.2 milesThe University of Tennessee-Chattanooga admits 81% of applicants. Together they have 14,903 students on campus.A community college 2.4 miles awayChattanooga State Community College in Chattanooga: tuition and fees $4,772 a year for Tennessee residents.In-state price at The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaLiving in Tennessee, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga charges $10,448 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $18,512. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% of residentsAbove Tennessee (5%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Chattanooga

Five private colleges within 11.2 miles, one public college within 3.2 miles, and Chattanooga State Community College 2.4 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miThe University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaChattanooga StateChattanooga
University or collegeCommunity college
Chattanooga State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,824 on campus · In Chattanooga$5knet price26%graduate$38kearningsTuition and fees: $4,772 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Richmont Graduate UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 233 on campus · In ChattanoogaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaUniversity or college · Public · 10,079 on campus · In Chattanooga81%admitted$14knet price50%graduate$51kearningsMiller-Motte College-ChattanoogaUniversity or college · For-profit · 236 on campus · In Chattanooga · mostly online$24knet price60%graduate$31kearnings94% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 22 campuses that file with it.Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical CareersUniversity or college · For-profit · 311 on campus · In Chattanooga$34knet price12%graduate$26kearningsCovenant CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 928 on campus · 10 mi · Lookout Mountain, GA87%admitted$26knet price71%graduate$50kearningsSouthern Adventist UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,956 on campus · 11.2 mi · Collegedale66%admitted$24knet price49%graduate$54kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Chattanooga’s median household income ($64,523) falls.

Chattanooga State Community CollegeIn Chattanooga · sticker $13,348 · tuition $4,772$6,708a year
The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaIn Chattanooga · sticker $25,489$13,594a year
Southern Adventist University11.2 mi · Collegedale · sticker $38,618$22,849a year
Covenant College10 mi · Lookout Mountain, GA · sticker $57,467$24,606a year
Miller-Motte College-ChattanoogaIn Chattanooga · mostly online · sticker $29,203$26,084a year
Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical CareersIn Chattanooga · sticker $37,746$33,859a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Chattanooga: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Chattanooga StateThe University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaMiller-Motte College-ChattanoogaChattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical CareersCovenant CollegeSouthern Adventist University
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga50% graduate$51k earnings$20k typical debt
Chattanooga State Community College26% graduate$38k earnings$10k typical debt
Southern Adventist University49% graduate$54k earnings$24k typical debt
Covenant College71% graduate$50k earnings$22k typical debt
Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers12% graduate$26k earnings$8k typical debt
Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga60% graduate$31k earnings*$16k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga (22).

Majors

What students study in Chattanooga

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Chattanooga’s 3 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 17%Business 16%Liberal arts 11%Psychology 6%Parks & recreation 5%Engineering 4%Everything else 41%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesChattanooga State Community College · 517 graduates a year
$43k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralThe University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · 242 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessThe University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · 202 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsThe University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · 167 graduates a year
$67k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsThe University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · 149 graduates a year
$46k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralThe University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · 112 graduates a year
$51k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsThe University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · 103 graduates a year
$54k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingThe University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · 97 graduates a year
$78k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating. Left out: Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga, where most students study only online.

Questions about college in Chattanooga

Is Chattanooga a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Chattanooga residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Tennessee (5). The largest campus in the city, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, has 10,079 students on campus.

What colleges are in Chattanooga?

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College, Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers, Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga and 1 more are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Chattanooga, and what does it cost?

Chattanooga State Community College in Chattanooga, 2.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,772 a year for Tennessee residents; the federal net price, $5,283, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga cost if we live in Tennessee?

Tuition and fees are $10,448 a year in-state and $18,512 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,876 (under $30,000 income) to $19,137 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Chattanooga. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →