2026 data College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Hazard Community and Technical College

Open-data reference.

We found 8 schools structurally similar to Hazard Community and Technical College that cost less. 8 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Hazard Community and Technical College

Hazard, Kentucky · Public

$2,955
Net Price
$29,868
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Graduation Rate

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

Hazard Community and Technical College posts an average net price of $2,955 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 Hazard Community and Technical College across six dimensions — ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, graduate earnings, and completion rate. 8 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $1,822, achieved by Chipola College at $1,133. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 8 of the 8 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Hazard Community and Technical College’s $29,868, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $38,245.

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

8
Alternatives Found
$1,822
Max Savings
8
Better Value Options
53%
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. Lake Land College $39k 2. Manatee Technical College $38k 3. Lamar State College-Port Art $37k 4. Bridgerland Technical Colleg $38k 5. Lamar State College-Orange $37k Compared to Hazard Community and Technical College: $30k.

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
Lake Land College
Mattoon, IL · Public Better Value
$2,254 -$701 $38,877 N/A 53%
Manatee Technical College
Bradenton, FL · Public Better Value
$1,808 -$1,147 $38,129 N/A 53%
Lamar State College-Port Arthur
Port Arthur, TX · Public Better Value
$2,846 -$109 $37,120 N/A 53%
Bridgerland Technical College
Logan, UT · Public Better Value
$2,338 -$617 $38,347 N/A 52%
Lamar State College-Orange
Orange, TX · Public Better Value
$1,655 -$1,300 $36,587 N/A 50%
Chipola College
Marianna, FL · Public Better Value
$1,133 -$1,822 $37,378 57.2% 48%
West Virginia University at Parkersburg
Parkersburg, WV · Public Better Value
$1,807 -$1,148 $35,171 20.0% 47%
Carroll Community College
Westminster, MD · Public Better Value
$2,725 -$230 $44,349 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 Hazard Community and Technical 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 Hazard Community and Technical College?
We found 8 schools similar to Hazard Community and Technical College that cost less. The closest match is Lake Land College with 53% similarity and a net price of $2,254.
What is the ROI of attending Hazard Community and Technical College?
Hazard Community and Technical College has an average net price of $2,955. Graduates earn a median of $29,868 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 10.1x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Hazard Community and Technical College for less money?
Yes — 8 of 8 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Lake Land College costs $2,254 (saving $701) with median earnings of $38,877.
What is the cheapest alternative to Hazard Community and Technical College?
The most affordable similar school is Chipola College at $1,133, saving $1,822 compared to Hazard Community and Technical College. It has a 48% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 8 alternatives have an average median earnings of $38,245 compared to Hazard Community and Technical College's $29,868. 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.