2026 data College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Alaska Vocational Technical Center

Open-data reference.

We found 9 schools structurally similar to Alaska Vocational Technical Center that cost less. 9 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Alaska Vocational Technical Center

Seward, Alaska · Public

$12,635
Net Price
$51,083
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Graduation Rate

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Alaska Vocational Technical Center

Alaska Vocational Technical Center posts an average net price of $12,635 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 Alaska Vocational Technical Center across six dimensions — ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, graduate earnings, and completion rate. 9 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $4,606, achieved by Central School of Practical Nursing at $8,029. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 9 of the 9 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Alaska Vocational Technical Center’s $51,083, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $64,396.

The similarity scoring treats enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector as high-weight features because those structural attributes correlate most strongly with student experience and post-graduation outcomes in the College Scorecard literature. Admission rate and graduation rate enter as secondary features, while net price drives the cost-ranking that determines which institutions appear. Net price is an IPEDS-reported figure calculated as the average cost of attendance minus institutional and federal grants for first-time, full-time undergraduates receiving Title IV aid — so it already accounts for the aid a typical admitted student would receive. That makes it a more honest cost comparison than sticker-price tuition alone.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

9
Alternatives Found
$4,606
Max Savings
9
Better Value Options
58%
Best Match

Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings

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 Top 5 1. Central School of Practical $59k 2. University of Connecticut-Wa $74k 3. Eastern Suffolk BOCES $63k 4. Eastern Suffolk BOCES $63k 5. SUNY Old Westbury $59k Compared to Alaska Vocational Technical Center: $51k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · 2024 (latest release) Median 10-year earnings reflect federal-aid recipients only; net price reflects sticker price minus average grants/scholarships.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
Central School of Practical Nursing
Norfolk, VA · Public Better Value
$8,029 -$4,606 $59,399 N/A 58%
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
Waterbury, CT · Public Better Value
$10,875 -$1,760 $73,997 56.1% 53%
Eastern Suffolk BOCES
Riverhead, NY · Public Better Value
$10,121 -$2,514 $63,394 N/A 53%
Eastern Suffolk BOCES
Oakdale, NY · Public Better Value
$11,330 -$1,305 $63,394 N/A 53%
SUNY Old Westbury
Old Westbury, NY · Public Better Value
$11,282 -$1,353 $58,526 45.5% 41%
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL · Public Better Value
$10,411 -$2,224 $58,308 76.6% 41%
HCA Florida Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing
Miami, FL · Private For-Profit Better Value
$9,109 -$3,526 $72,275 N/A 40%
Trinity Health System School of Nursing
Steubenville, OH · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$9,825 -$2,810 $71,660 N/A 40%
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI · Public Better Value
$9,120 -$3,515 $58,612 57.3% 40%

How We Match Schools

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

Only schools with a lower average net price than Alaska Vocational Technical Center 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 Alaska Vocational Technical Center?
We found 9 schools similar to Alaska Vocational Technical Center that cost less. The closest match is Central School of Practical Nursing with 58% similarity and a net price of $8,029.
What is the ROI of attending Alaska Vocational Technical Center?
Alaska Vocational Technical Center has an average net price of $12,635. Graduates earn a median of $51,083 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 4.0x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Alaska Vocational Technical Center for less money?
Yes — 9 of 9 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Central School of Practical Nursing costs $8,029 (saving $4,606) with median earnings of $59,399.
What is the cheapest alternative to Alaska Vocational Technical Center?
The most affordable similar school is Central School of Practical Nursing at $8,029, saving $4,606 compared to Alaska Vocational Technical Center. It has a 58% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 9 alternatives have an average median earnings of $64,396 compared to Alaska Vocational Technical Center's $51,083. 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.