2026 data College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program

Open-data reference.

We found 4 schools structurally similar to Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program that cost less. 4 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

$24,194
Net Price
$49,229
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Graduation Rate

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program

Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program posts an average net price of $24,194 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 Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program across six dimensions — ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, graduate earnings, and completion rate. 4 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $5,064, achieved by Unitek College at $19,130. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 4 of the 4 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program’s $49,229, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $85,917.

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

4
Alternatives Found
$5,064
Max Savings
4
Better Value Options
60%
Best Match

Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings

Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 4 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Top 4 1. Heritage Valley Health Syste $80k 2. Signature Healthcare Brockto $88k 3. Unitek College $88k 4. Unitek College $88k Compared to Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program: $49k.

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
Heritage Valley Health System School of Nursing
McKees Rocks, PA · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$23,656 -$538 $79,831 N/A 60%
Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital School of Nursing
Brockton, MA · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$22,761 -$1,433 $88,084 N/A 40%
Unitek College
South San Francisco, CA · Private For-Profit Better Value
$23,676 -$518 $87,877 N/A 40%
Unitek College
Hayward, CA · Private For-Profit Better Value
$19,130 -$5,064 $87,877 N/A 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 Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program 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 Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program?
We found 4 schools similar to Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program that cost less. The closest match is Heritage Valley Health System School of Nursing with 60% similarity and a net price of $23,656.
What is the ROI of attending Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program?
Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program has an average net price of $24,194. Graduates earn a median of $49,229 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 2.0x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program for less money?
Yes — 4 of 4 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Heritage Valley Health System School of Nursing costs $23,656 (saving $538) with median earnings of $79,831.
What is the cheapest alternative to Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program?
The most affordable similar school is Unitek College at $19,130, saving $5,064 compared to Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program. It has a 40% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 4 alternatives have an average median earnings of $85,917 compared to Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program's $49,229. 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.