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Columbia State Community College
Columbia, Tennessee · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 1665 Hampshire Pike, Columbia, TN 38401 · Phone: (931) 540-2730 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Columbia State Community College is a public trade and career school in Columbia, Tennessee, offering EMT & paramedic training, radiology and sonography programs, and medical assistant programs, accredited by SACS.
Columbia State Community College has a 29.6% completion rate, below the state average of 64.3%, with median graduate debt of $8,500 and median earnings of $40,256 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Columbia State Community College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including Pell Grants, is available, with about 29.8% of students receiving Pell.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency medical technicians | $29,720 | $40,330 | $48,430 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $50,540 | $64,630 | $78,700 |
| Medical assistants | $34,840 | $39,570 | $45,580 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Tennessee (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 76 | $40,579 | $37,328 | $5,375 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 21 | $40,579 | $37,328 | $5,375 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 16 | $42,577 | $44,858 | $9,000 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 8 | $27,954 | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | $40,579 | $37,328 | $5,375 |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Columbia State Community College is a public community college in Columbia, Tennessee. It participates in federal student aid programs (Title IV), and its accreditation includes the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, plus program-level accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. Among its five program families, the campus awards the most credentials in EMT & paramedic training (97 completers), followed by radiology and sonography programs (17) and medical assistant programs (8).
Federal data shows a completion rate of 29.6%, which is below the state average of 64.3%. Graduates carry a median debt of $8,500, and median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $40,256. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 29.8% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of the student body qualifies for need-based federal aid.
Given its mix of short-term certificate programs like EMT training and longer allied-health tracks such as radiology and medical assisting, this campus may suit both first-time students and adult career changers seeking a faster entry into healthcare-adjacent fields, though program length details beyond credential names are not specified here. Prospective students should independently verify accreditation status and outcomes through the school's accreditors and the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Columbia State Community College offers programs in EMT & paramedic training, radiology & sonography, and medical assistant training, among five total program families. EMT & paramedic training is the largest, with 97 completers reported.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the college is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, with additional program-level accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA and Pell Grants. About 29.8% of students receive Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 29.6%, which is below the Tennessee state average of 64.3%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt for graduates is reported at $8,500, per federal Scorecard data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings for graduates 10 years after entry are reported at $40,256.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly at (931) 540-2730 or visit its website for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public community college, meaning it is state-supported and generally has lower tuition than private for-profit trade schools, though exact costs are not reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported in the data provided; contact the school or check its website for program duration details.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through SACS, ACEN, and JRCERT, and review outcome data via the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?219888.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers a mix of short-term certificate programs, such as EMT training, and longer allied-health credentials like radiology and medical assisting, which may appeal to career changers, though specific program lengths and schedule flexibility are not detailed in this data.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements for programs such as EMT/paramedic or radiologic technology vary by state and role; this data does not specify exact licensing steps, so contact the school directly for guidance.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can contact Columbia State Community College at (931) 540-2730 or visit https://www.columbiastate.edu/ for application details.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
This data does not include comparative information on other nearby schools; check the College Scorecard link for side-by-side data on similar institutions.
Nearby trade and career schools in Tennessee
- Superior Drivers Institute, LLCColumbia, TN
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- Concorde Career College-MemphisMemphis, TN · 55% completion
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See all trade and career schools in Tennessee or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.