Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College that cost less. 12 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

$2,839
Net Price
$35,014
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
5.8%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College

Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College posts an average net price of $2,839 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 Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College 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 $3,103, achieved by Wilkes Community College at -$264. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 12 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College’s $35,014, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $36,756.

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
$3,103
Max Savings
12
Better Value Options
77%
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. Central Technology Center $36k 2. Erwin Technical College $38k 3. Putnam Career and Technical $36k 4. Cape Coral Technical College $36k 5. Radford M Locklin Technical $36k Compared to Miami Lakes Educational Center and TechnicalCollege: $35k.

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
Central Technology Center
Drumright, OK · Public Better Value
$2,674 -$165 $36,351 89.4% 77%
Erwin Technical College
Tampa, FL · Public Better Value
$2,796 -$43 $37,966 79.8% 74%
Putnam Career and Technical Center
Eleanor, WV · Public Better Value
$1,975 -$864 $36,203 78.6% 67%
Cape Coral Technical College
Cape Coral, FL · Public Better Value
$1,463 -$1,376 $36,080 84.8% 67%
Radford M Locklin Technical College
Milton, FL · Public Better Value
$987 -$1,852 $35,997 65.4% 67%
West Shore Community College
Scottville, MI · Public Better Value
$1,527 -$1,312 $36,115 28.9% 61%
Manatee Technical College
Bradenton, FL · Public Better Value
$1,808 -$1,031 $38,129 71.7% 60%
Wood County Technical Center-Practical Nursing
Parkersburg, WV · Public Better Value
$2,248 -$591 $40,547 N/A 59%
Bridgerland Technical College
Logan, UT · Public Better Value
$2,338 -$501 $38,347 70.3% 59%
Henry Ford College
Dearborn, MI · Public
$660 -$2,179 $34,795 13.8% 55%
Northeast Alabama Community College
Rainsville, AL · Public
$2,756 -$83 $34,913 52.6% 53%
Kirksville Area Technical Center
Kirksville, MO · Public Better Value
$1,699 -$1,140 $40,517 86.1% 52%
West Virginia University at Parkersburg
Parkersburg, WV · Public Better Value
$1,807 -$1,032 $35,171 20.0% 52%
Wilkes Community College
Wilkesboro, NC · Public
-$264 -$3,103 $34,728 53.8% 52%
West Georgia Technical College
Waco, GA · Public Better Value
$2,457 -$382 $35,479 33.0% 51%

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 Miami Lakes Educational Center 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 Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College?
We found 15 schools similar to Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College that cost less. The closest match is Central Technology Center with 77% similarity and a net price of $2,674.
What is the ROI of attending Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College?
Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College has an average net price of $2,839. Former students earn a median of $35,014 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 12.3x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College for less money?
Yes - 12 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Central Technology Center costs $2,674 (saving $165) with median earnings of $36,351.
What is the cheapest alternative to Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College?
The most affordable similar school is Wilkes Community College at -$264, saving $3,103 compared to Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College. It has a 52% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $36,756 compared to Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College's $35,014. 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.