Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to La James International College-Ft Dodge

Open-data reference.

We found 8 schools structurally similar to La James International College-Ft Dodge that cost less. 8 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

La James International College-Ft Dodge

Fort Dodge, Iowa · Private For-Profit

$14,824
Net Price
$26,679
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
N/A
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to La James International College-Ft Dodge

La James International College-Ft Dodge posts an average net price of $14,824 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 La James International College-Ft Dodge across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 8 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $5,715, achieved by HCA Florida Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing at $9,109. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 8 of the 8 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above La James International College-Ft Dodge’s $26,679, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $69,115.

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

8
Alternatives Found
$5,715
Max Savings
8
Better Value Options
57%
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. HCA Florida Mercy Hospital S $72k 2. Trinity Health System School $72k 3. Marion S Whelan School of Nu $71k 4. Eastern Suffolk BOCES $63k 5. University of Connecticut-Wa $74k Compared to La James International College-Ft Dodge: $27k.

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.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
HCA Florida Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing
Miami, FL · Private For-Profit Better Value
$9,109 -$5,715 $72,275 N/A 57%
Trinity Health System School of Nursing
Steubenville, OH · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$9,825 -$4,999 $71,660 N/A 53%
Marion S Whelan School of Nursing of Geneva General Hospital
Geneva, NY · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$14,370 -$454 $70,771 N/A 45%
Eastern Suffolk BOCES
Oakdale, NY · Public Better Value
$11,330 -$3,494 $63,394 84.2% 44%
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
Waterbury, CT · Public Better Value
$10,875 -$3,949 $73,997 56.1% 40%
University of Connecticut-Avery Point
Groton, CT · Public Better Value
$13,807 -$1,017 $73,997 59.1% 40%
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly
Lemont Furnace, PA · Public Better Value
$14,596 -$228 $63,435 36.1% 40%
Eastern Suffolk BOCES
Riverhead, NY · Public Better Value
$10,121 -$4,703 $63,394 76.0% 40%

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 La James International College-Ft Dodge 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 La James International College-Ft Dodge?
We found 8 schools similar to La James International College-Ft Dodge that cost less. The closest match is HCA Florida Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing with 57% similarity and a net price of $9,109.
What is the ROI of attending La James International College-Ft Dodge?
La James International College-Ft Dodge has an average net price of $14,824. Former students earn a median of $26,679 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 1.8x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than La James International College-Ft Dodge for less money?
Yes - 8 of 8 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. HCA Florida Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing costs $9,109 (saving $5,715) with median earnings of $72,275.
What is the cheapest alternative to La James International College-Ft Dodge?
The most affordable similar school is HCA Florida Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing at $9,109, saving $5,715 compared to La James International College-Ft Dodge. It has a 57% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 8 alternatives have an average median earnings of $69,115 compared to La James International College-Ft Dodge's $26,679. 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.