Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Fayetteville Technical Community College

Open-data reference.

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

Your School

Fayetteville Technical Community College

Fayetteville, North Carolina · Public

$3,589
Net Price
$31,861
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
22.2%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Fayetteville Technical Community College

Fayetteville Technical Community College posts an average net price of $3,589 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 Fayetteville Technical 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 $4,571, achieved by Ventura College at -$982. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 15 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Fayetteville Technical Community College’s $31,861, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $45,590.

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
$4,571
Max Savings
15
Better Value Options
74%
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. Joliet Junior College $43k 2. Carroll Community College $44k 3. Hartnell College $44k 4. Del Mar College $39k 5. Spoon River College $38k Compared to Fayetteville Technical Community College:$32k.

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
Joliet Junior College
Joliet, IL · Public Better Value
$1,672 -$1,917 $42,889 20.7% 74%
Carroll Community College
Westminster, MD · Public Better Value
$2,725 -$864 $44,349 43.4% 47%
Hartnell College
Salinas, CA · Public Better Value
$2,039 -$1,550 $44,316 34.8% 47%
Del Mar College
Corpus Christi, TX · Public Better Value
$3,399 -$190 $38,656 11.9% 47%
Spoon River College
Canton, IL · Public Better Value
$3,415 -$174 $38,386 42.3% 47%
Ventura College
Ventura, CA · Public Better Value
-$982 -$4,571 $43,430 40.5% 45%
Schoolcraft Community College District
Livonia, MI · Public Better Value
$2,260 -$1,329 $42,722 16.7% 45%
Irvine Valley College
Irvine, CA · Public Better Value
$2,090 -$1,499 $49,156 57.3% 44%
CUNY Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY · Public Better Value
$3,103 -$486 $60,752 55.2% 43%
Middlesex Community College
Bedford, MA · Public Better Value
$2,624 -$965 $50,651 23.1% 43%
Middlesex College
Edison, NJ · Public Better Value
$2,288 -$1,301 $46,861 34.0% 43%
Santiago Canyon College
Orange, CA · Public Better Value
$2,129 -$1,460 $44,956 47.4% 43%
CUNY Lehman College
Bronx, NY · Public Better Value
$3,148 -$441 $58,013 50.3% 42%
Washtenaw Community College
Ann Arbor, MI · Public Better Value
$3,249 -$340 $39,449 31.5% 42%
Shasta College
Redding, CA · Public Better Value
$2,878 -$711 $39,269 26.2% 42%

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 Fayetteville Technical 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 Fayetteville Technical Community College?
We found 15 schools similar to Fayetteville Technical Community College that cost less. The closest match is Joliet Junior College with 74% similarity and a net price of $1,672.
What is the ROI of attending Fayetteville Technical Community College?
Fayetteville Technical Community College has an average net price of $3,589. Former students earn a median of $31,861 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 8.9x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Fayetteville Technical Community College for less money?
Yes - 15 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Joliet Junior College costs $1,672 (saving $1,917) with median earnings of $42,889.
What is the cheapest alternative to Fayetteville Technical Community College?
The most affordable similar school is Ventura College at -$982, saving $4,571 compared to Fayetteville Technical Community College. It has a 45% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $45,590 compared to Fayetteville Technical Community College's $31,861. 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.