2026 data College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Metro Technology Centers

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Metro Technology Centers that cost less. 15 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Metro Technology Centers

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · Public

$4,561
Net Price
$38,830
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Graduation Rate

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Metro Technology Centers

Metro Technology Centers posts an average net price of $4,561 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 Metro Technology Centers 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 $5,689, achieved by Oxnard College at $-1,128. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 15 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Metro Technology Centers’s $38,830, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $44,245.

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

15
Alternatives Found
$5,689
Max Savings
15
Better Value Options
70%
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. Fayette Institute of Technol $42k 2. Gordon Cooper Technology Cen $42k 3. Western Texas College $43k 4. Fred W Eberle Technical Cent $43k 5. Technical College of the Roc $46k Compared to Metro Technology Centers: $39k.

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
Fayette Institute of Technology
Oak Hill, WV · Public Better Value
$4,132 -$429 $41,880 N/A 70%
Gordon Cooper Technology Center
Shawnee, OK · Public Better Value
$1,680 -$2,881 $42,021 N/A 69%
Western Texas College
Snyder, TX · Public Better Value
$3,562 -$999 $42,508 N/A 65%
Fred W Eberle Technical Center
Buckhannon, WV · Public Better Value
$2,129 -$2,432 $43,364 N/A 64%
Technical College of the Rockies
Delta, CO · Public Better Value
$3,796 -$765 $45,516 N/A 57%
Mineral County Vocational Technical Center
Keyser, WV · Public Better Value
$2,914 -$1,647 $46,022 N/A 55%
Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center
Stollings, WV · Public Better Value
$-767 -$5,328 $51,465 N/A 53%
Green Country Technology Center
Okmulgee, OK · Public Better Value
$1,062 -$3,499 $51,375 N/A 53%
United Technical Center
Clarksburg, WV · Public Better Value
$3,461 -$1,100 $49,130 N/A 53%
Macomb Community College
Warren, MI · Public Better Value
$1,618 -$2,943 $41,596 N/A 51%
Oxnard College
Oxnard, CA · Public Better Value
$-1,128 -$5,689 $41,393 N/A 51%
Triton College
River Grove, IL · Public Better Value
$4,138 -$423 $41,728 N/A 50%
Dallas College
Dallas, TX · Public Better Value
$3,214 -$1,347 $41,714 34.0% 50%
Citrus College
Glendora, CA · Public Better Value
$4,135 -$426 $42,065 N/A 49%
Texas Southmost College
Brownsville, TX · Public Better Value
$3,085 -$1,476 $41,900 N/A 49%

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 Metro Technology Centers 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 Metro Technology Centers?
We found 15 schools similar to Metro Technology Centers that cost less. The closest match is Fayette Institute of Technology with 70% similarity and a net price of $4,132.
What is the ROI of attending Metro Technology Centers?
Metro Technology Centers has an average net price of $4,561. Graduates earn a median of $38,830 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 8.5x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Metro Technology Centers for less money?
Yes — 15 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Fayette Institute of Technology costs $4,132 (saving $429) with median earnings of $41,880.
What is the cheapest alternative to Metro Technology Centers?
The most affordable similar school is Oxnard College at $-1,128, saving $5,689 compared to Metro Technology Centers. It has a 51% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $44,245 compared to Metro Technology Centers's $38,830. 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.