Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Gordon Cooper Technology Center

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Gordon Cooper Technology Center that cost less. 5 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Gordon Cooper Technology Center

Shawnee, Oklahoma · Public

$1,680
Net Price
$42,021
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
84.7%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Gordon Cooper Technology Center

Gordon Cooper Technology Center posts an average net price of $1,680 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 Gordon Cooper Technology Center 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 $2,808, achieved by Oxnard College at -$1,128. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 5 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Gordon Cooper Technology Center’s $42,021, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $37,766.

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
$2,808
Max Savings
5
Better Value Options
66%
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. Cape Coral Technical College $36k 2. Radford M Locklin Technical $36k 3. Ralph R Willis Career and Te $51k 4. Western Technology Center $30k 5. Macomb Community College $42k Compared to Gordon Cooper Technology Center: $42k.

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
Cape Coral Technical College
Cape Coral, FL · Public
$1,463 -$217 $36,080 84.8% 66%
Radford M Locklin Technical College
Milton, FL · Public
$987 -$693 $35,997 65.4% 59%
Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center
Stollings, WV · Public Better Value
-$767 -$2,447 $51,465 87.1% 56%
Western Technology Center
Burns Flat, OK · Public
-$1,072 -$2,752 $29,728 63.0% 56%
Macomb Community College
Warren, MI · Public
$1,618 -$62 $41,596 17.0% 52%
Joliet Junior College
Joliet, IL · Public Better Value
$1,672 -$8 $42,889 20.7% 51%
St Petersburg College
St. Petersburg, FL · Public Better Value
$1,471 -$209 $42,557 37.9% 51%
Oxnard College
Oxnard, CA · Public
-$1,128 -$2,808 $41,393 33.4% 51%
Caddo Kiowa Technology Center
Fort Cobb, OK · Public
-$28 -$1,708 $21,576 65.8% 51%
Green Country Technology Center
Okmulgee, OK · Public Better Value
$1,062 -$618 $51,375 75.6% 49%
Ventura College
Ventura, CA · Public Better Value
-$982 -$2,662 $43,430 40.5% 49%
North Florida Technical College
Starke, FL · Public
$1,590 -$90 $31,683 73.8% 47%
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Crump
Crump, TN · Public
-$839 -$2,519 $30,796 62.5% 47%
Escuela De Troqueleria Y Herramentaje
Bayamon, PR · Public
$905 -$775 $26,293 61.1% 47%
College of the Mainland
Texas City, TX · Public
$1,342 -$338 $39,639 29.8% 46%

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 Gordon Cooper Technology 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 Gordon Cooper Technology Center?
We found 15 schools similar to Gordon Cooper Technology Center that cost less. The closest match is Cape Coral Technical College with 66% similarity and a net price of $1,463.
What is the ROI of attending Gordon Cooper Technology Center?
Gordon Cooper Technology Center has an average net price of $1,680. Former students earn a median of $42,021 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 25.0x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Gordon Cooper Technology Center for less money?
Yes - 5 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center costs -$767 (saving $2,447) with median earnings of $51,465.
What is the cheapest alternative to Gordon Cooper Technology Center?
The most affordable similar school is Oxnard College at -$1,128, saving $2,808 compared to Gordon Cooper Technology Center. It has a 51% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $37,766 compared to Gordon Cooper Technology Center's $42,021. While alternatives cost less, their average earnings are also lower. 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.