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Downtown Cleveland, Tennessee, in Bradley County 02Photo: Harrison Keely · CC BY 4.0
Colleges in and near Cleveland

Cleveland is home to two colleges, with 6,016 students on campus

Lee University (3,258 students on campus) and Cleveland State Community College (2,758) are inside the city. About 9% of Cleveland’s residents are enrolled in college, above Tennessee (5%).

Lee UniversityCleveland State Community College

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 Cleveland. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
3
8,972 students on campus
Nearest college
1 mi
Lee University
Residents in college
9%
Above TN (5%)
Nearest community college
1.5 mi
Cleveland State · $4,762 tuition
Nearest public university
25.9 mi
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · $10,448 in-state
Median household income
$59K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Cleveland

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

Two colleges within 1.5 milesLee University admits 71% of applicants. Together they have 6,016 students on campus.A community college 1.5 miles awayCleveland State Community College in Cleveland: tuition and fees $4,762 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 9% of residentsAbove Tennessee (5%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Cleveland

Two private colleges within 13.7 miles, and Cleveland State Community College 1.5 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, is 25.9 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miLee UniversitySouthern Adventist UniversityCleveland StateCleveland
University or collegeCommunity college
Lee UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,258 on campus · In Cleveland71%admitted$19knet price63%graduate$43kearningsCleveland State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,758 on campus · In Cleveland$6knet price37%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $4,762 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Southern Adventist UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,956 on campus · 13.7 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 and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Cleveland’s median household income ($58,559) falls.

Cleveland State Community CollegeIn Cleveland · sticker $14,834 · tuition $4,762$7,356a year
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga25.9 mi · Chattanooga · sticker $25,489$13,594a year
Lee UniversityIn Cleveland · sticker $35,688$17,029a year
Southern Adventist University13.7 mi · Collegedale · sticker $38,618$22,849a 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: 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 →Lee UniversityCleveland StateSouthern Adventist UniversityThe University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga50% graduate$51k earnings$20k typical debt
Lee University63% graduate$43k earnings$26k typical debt
Southern Adventist University49% graduate$54k earnings$24k typical debt
Cleveland State Community College37% graduate$37k earnings$8k 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.

Majors

What students study in Cleveland

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Cleveland’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 20%Health professions 14%Business 13%Engineering tech 8%Theology 8%Education 6%Everything else 32%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesCleveland State Community College · 255 graduates a year
$35k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralLee University · 74 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingLee University · 67 graduates a year
$70k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingCleveland State Community College · 65 graduates a year
$78k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsLee University · 63 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized MinistriesLee University · 60 graduates a year
$46k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsCleveland State Community College · 55 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesLee University · 53 graduates a year
$54k4 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.

Questions about college in Cleveland

Is Cleveland a college town?

No. About 9 of every 100 Cleveland residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Tennessee (5). The largest campus in the city, Lee University, has 3,258 students on campus.

What colleges are in Cleveland?

Lee University and Cleveland State Community College are inside the city.

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

Cleveland State Community College in Cleveland, 1.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,762 a year for Tennessee residents; the federal net price, $6,384, 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 Cleveland. 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 →