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Western Technical College
La Crosse, WI 3,434 Undergrads 51.3% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$15,548
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,069
After Aid
Median Earnings
$45,303
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$12,069
Peer Midpoint: $16,832
Earnings (10yr)$45,303
Peer Midpoint: $31,349
Graduation Rate51.3%
Peer Midpoint: 66.3%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients35.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time45.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS70.8%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$480k
+$155k
-$5k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$469k
+$144k
-$16k
Full Cost$16k/yr
+$465k
+$141k
-$19k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-140%
Full Cost$16k/yr
Never
-131%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-127%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-66%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Certificates
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
CertCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$9,208
Earnings (5yr)
$36,299
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$13,750
Earnings (5yr)
$52,244
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
CertCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,230
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology
CertCIP: 4701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies
CertCIP: 4703
Median Debt
$8,969
Earnings (5yr)
$63,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (5yr)
$45,090
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
$5,916
Earnings (5yr)
$51,221
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (5yr)
$48,346
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Associate's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$13,980
Earnings (5yr)
$53,540
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$11,033
Earnings (5yr)
$63,004
Lifetime Value Added
+$139k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$18,940
Earnings (5yr)
$48,963
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
AssocCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$215k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1512
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,717
Lifetime Value Added
+$234k
Computer Software and Media Applications
AssocCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
AssocCIP: 1109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,992
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
AssocCIP: 1110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Design and Applied Arts
AssocCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$11,479
Earnings (5yr)
$34,819
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1504
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (5yr)
$72,827
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$12,316
Earnings (5yr)
$38,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Human Resources Management and Services
AssocCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$34,420
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Marketing
AssocCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,094
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$17,454
Earnings (5yr)
$35,912
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$15,150
Earnings (5yr)
$68,772
Lifetime Value Added
+$191k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
AssocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$22,329
Lifetime Value Added
-$246k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.