Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Dyersburg State Community College

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Dyersburg State Community College that cost less. 15 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Dyersburg State Community College

Dyersburg, Tennessee · Public

$4,612
Net Price
$36,132
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
30.5%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Dyersburg State Community College

Dyersburg State Community College posts an average net price of $4,612 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with Dyersburg State Community College across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $6,908, achieved by Moorpark College at -$2,296. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 15 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Dyersburg State Community College’s $36,132, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $43,988.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

15
Alternatives Found
$6,908
Max Savings
15
Better Value Options
59%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. Tarrant County College Distr $43k 2. Hartnell College $44k 3. Victoria College $42k 4. CUNY Queensborough Community $44k 5. Citrus College $42k Compared to Dyersburg State Community College: $36k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

A negative College Scorecard net price means the institution reported average grant and scholarship aid above its cost-of-attendance estimate for the covered first-time, full-time aid recipients. It is a cohort average, not a promise that every student is paid to attend.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
Tarrant County College District
Fort Worth, TX · Public Better Value
$4,337 -$275 $42,727 29.3% 59%
Hartnell College
Salinas, CA · Public Better Value
$2,039 -$2,573 $44,316 34.8% 54%
Victoria College
Victoria, TX · Public Better Value
$3,043 -$1,569 $42,382 26.7% 53%
CUNY Queensborough Community College
Bayside, NY · Public Better Value
$4,458 -$154 $44,214 23.5% 51%
Citrus College
Glendora, CA · Public Better Value
$4,135 -$477 $42,065 42.9% 51%
Moorpark College
Moorpark, CA · Public Better Value
-$2,296 -$6,908 $49,044 43.5% 47%
Santiago Canyon College
Orange, CA · Public Better Value
$2,129 -$2,483 $44,956 47.4% 47%
Pasadena City College
Pasadena, CA · Public Better Value
$3,864 -$748 $43,937 44.3% 47%
Ventura College
Ventura, CA · Public Better Value
-$982 -$5,594 $43,430 40.5% 47%
Carroll Community College
Westminster, MD · Public Better Value
$2,725 -$1,887 $44,349 43.4% 45%
Triton College
River Grove, IL · Public Better Value
$4,138 -$474 $41,728 29.0% 45%
Indiana University-Kokomo
Kokomo, IN · Public Better Value
$3,968 -$644 $49,917 45.2% 43%
Texas Southmost College
Brownsville, TX · Public Better Value
$3,085 -$1,527 $41,900 28.2% 43%
Northwest Vista College
San Antonio, TX · Public Better Value
$4,525 -$87 $42,490 32.0% 42%
Modesto Junior College
Modesto, CA · Public Better Value
$2,818 -$1,794 $42,368 27.8% 41%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than Dyersburg State Community College are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to Dyersburg State Community College?
We found 15 schools similar to Dyersburg State Community College that cost less. The closest match is Tarrant County College District with 59% similarity and a net price of $4,337.
What is the ROI of attending Dyersburg State Community College?
Dyersburg State Community College has an average net price of $4,612. Former students earn a median of $36,132 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 7.8x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Dyersburg State Community College for less money?
Yes - 15 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Tarrant County College District costs $4,337 (saving $275) with median earnings of $42,727.
What is the cheapest alternative to Dyersburg State Community College?
The most affordable similar school is Moorpark College at -$2,296, saving $6,908 compared to Dyersburg State Community College. It has a 47% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $43,988 compared to Dyersburg State Community College's $36,132. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.