2026 data College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Lex La-Ray Technical Center

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Lex La-Ray Technical Center that cost less. 5 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Lex La-Ray Technical Center

Lexington, Missouri · Public

$6,219
Net Price
$52,142
Median Earnings (10yr)
66.7%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Graduation Rate

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Lex La-Ray Technical Center

Lex La-Ray Technical Center posts an average net price of $6,219 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 Lex La-Ray Technical Center 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 $6,986, achieved by Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center at $-767. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 5 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Lex La-Ray Technical Center’s $52,142, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $50,814.

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
$6,986
Max Savings
5
Better Value Options
87%
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. Ralph R Willis Career and Te $51k 2. Green Country Technology Cen $51k 3. United Technical Center $49k 4. Mineral County Vocational Te $46k 5. Technical College of the Roc $46k Compared to Lex La-Ray Technical Center: $52k.

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
Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center
Stollings, WV · Public
$-767 -$6,986 $51,465 N/A 87%
Green Country Technology Center
Okmulgee, OK · Public
$1,062 -$5,157 $51,375 N/A 78%
United Technical Center
Clarksburg, WV · Public
$3,461 -$2,758 $49,130 N/A 72%
Mineral County Vocational Technical Center
Keyser, WV · Public
$2,914 -$3,305 $46,022 N/A 67%
Technical College of the Rockies
Delta, CO · Public
$3,796 -$2,423 $45,516 N/A 63%
Ohio University-Eastern Campus
Saint Clairsville, OH · Public Better Value
$3,925 -$2,294 $52,581 20.3% 59%
Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus
Chillicothe, OH · Public Better Value
$5,755 -$464 $52,581 13.2% 59%
Ohio University-Southern Campus
Ironton, OH · Public Better Value
$5,993 -$226 $52,581 20.2% 59%
Ohio University-Lancaster Campus
Lancaster, OH · Public Better Value
$5,650 -$569 $52,581 14.1% 59%
Ohio University-Zanesville Campus
Zanesville, OH · Public Better Value
$5,746 -$473 $52,581 19.7% 59%
West Valley College
Saratoga, CA · Public
$3,423 -$2,796 $51,688 N/A 59%
Norco College
Norco, CA · Public
$5,169 -$1,050 $51,206 N/A 58%
Las Positas College
Livermore, CA · Public
$5,377 -$842 $51,088 N/A 57%
Mission College
Santa Clara, CA · Public
$5,080 -$1,139 $50,936 N/A 57%
Saddleback College
Mission Viejo, CA · Public
$4,152 -$2,067 $50,874 N/A 57%

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 Lex La-Ray Technical 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 Lex La-Ray Technical Center?
We found 15 schools similar to Lex La-Ray Technical Center that cost less. The closest match is Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center with 87% similarity and a net price of $-767.
What is the ROI of attending Lex La-Ray Technical Center?
Lex La-Ray Technical Center has an average net price of $6,219. Graduates earn a median of $52,142 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 8.4x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Lex La-Ray Technical Center for less money?
Yes — 5 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Ohio University-Eastern Campus costs $3,925 (saving $2,294) with median earnings of $52,581.
What is the cheapest alternative to Lex La-Ray Technical Center?
The most affordable similar school is Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center at $-767, saving $6,986 compared to Lex La-Ray Technical Center. It has a 87% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $50,814 compared to Lex La-Ray Technical Center's $52,142. 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.