Business Administration, Management and Operations at Roane State Community College

This program comes with remarkably low debt—just $6,000 compared to the state median of $15,424—but graduates face a significant earnings gap that persists over time. At $36,346 four years out, Roane State business grads earn about $14,000 less annually than their peers at Cleveland State Community College and roughly $5,000 below the typical Tennessee community college business program. That 40th percentile ranking within Tennessee tells the story: this is a below-average performer in a state where business associate degrees already underperform nationally.

The positive side is hard to ignore: graduating with just $6,000 in debt means students can pay it off quickly even at these earnings levels. The 0.20 debt-to-earnings ratio is excellent, and the 22% wage growth suggests graduates do build skills that employers value over time. For students who need to stay close to home in the Harriman area or who value minimizing financial risk above all else, that low debt load offers real security.

The bottom line for parents: Your child will graduate with minimal debt burden, which matters. But they'll likely earn $4,000-5,000 less per year than they would from stronger Tennessee programs like Volunteer State or Chattanooga State. If location flexibility exists, those alternatives deliver meaningfully better returns. If Roane State is the only practical option, the low debt makes it manageable—just set realistic expectations about starting salaries.