2026 data College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Gogebic Community College

Open-data reference.

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

Your School

Gogebic Community College

Ironwood, Michigan · Public

$5,397
Net Price
$40,950
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Graduation Rate

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

Gogebic Community College posts an average net price of $5,397 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 Gogebic Community College across six dimensions — ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, graduate earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $6,379, 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 Gogebic Community College’s $40,950, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $44,132.

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

15
Alternatives Found
$6,379
Max Savings
15
Better Value Options
67%
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. Wharton County Junior Colleg $45k 2. Santa Ana College $44k 3. Cypress College $44k 4. Ventura College $43k 5. Fred W Eberle Technical Cent $43k Compared to Gogebic Community College: $41k.

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
Wharton County Junior College
Wharton, TX · Public Better Value
$4,666 -$731 $44,960 N/A 67%
Santa Ana College
Santa Ana, CA · Public Better Value
$3,133 -$2,264 $43,552 31.2% 52%
Cypress College
Cypress, CA · Public Better Value
$4,606 -$791 $43,533 36.3% 52%
Ventura College
Ventura, CA · Public Better Value
$-982 -$6,379 $43,430 N/A 52%
Fred W Eberle Technical Center
Buckhannon, WV · Public Better Value
$2,129 -$3,268 $43,364 N/A 52%
Solano Community College
Fairfield, CA · Public Better Value
$4,669 -$728 $44,170 35.1% 50%
Midland College
Midland, TX · Public Better Value
$4,512 -$885 $43,958 19.8% 50%
Pasadena City College
Pasadena, CA · Public Better Value
$3,864 -$1,533 $43,937 N/A 50%
Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills, IL · Public Better Value
$2,829 -$2,568 $43,892 N/A 50%
Carroll Community College
Westminster, MD · Public Better Value
$2,725 -$2,672 $44,349 N/A 49%
Hartnell College
Salinas, CA · Public Better Value
$2,039 -$3,358 $44,316 N/A 49%
CUNY Queensborough Community College
Bayside, NY · Public Better Value
$4,458 -$939 $44,214 N/A 49%
Rowan College at Burlington County
Mount Laurel, NJ · Public Better Value
$5,344 -$53 $44,745 N/A 48%
Kapiolani Community College
Honolulu, HI · Public Better Value
$5,202 -$195 $44,599 N/A 48%
Santiago Canyon College
Orange, CA · Public Better Value
$2,129 -$3,268 $44,956 N/A 47%

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 Gogebic 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 Gogebic Community College?
We found 15 schools similar to Gogebic Community College that cost less. The closest match is Wharton County Junior College with 67% similarity and a net price of $4,666.
What is the ROI of attending Gogebic Community College?
Gogebic Community College has an average net price of $5,397. Graduates earn a median of $40,950 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 7.6x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Gogebic Community College for less money?
Yes — 15 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Wharton County Junior College costs $4,666 (saving $731) with median earnings of $44,960.
What is the cheapest alternative to Gogebic Community College?
The most affordable similar school is Ventura College at $-982, saving $6,379 compared to Gogebic Community College. It has a 52% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $44,132 compared to Gogebic Community College's $40,950. 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.