2026 data College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Mineral County Vocational Technical Center

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Mineral County Vocational Technical Center that cost less. 3 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Mineral County Vocational Technical Center

Keyser, West Virginia · Public

$2,914
Net Price
$46,022
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Graduation Rate

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Mineral County Vocational Technical Center

Mineral County Vocational Technical Center posts an average net price of $2,914 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 Mineral County Vocational 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 $3,681, achieved by Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center at $-767. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 3 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Mineral County Vocational Technical Center’s $46,022, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $42,964.

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
$3,681
Max Savings
3
Better Value Options
73%
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. Fred W Eberle Technical Cent $43k 3. Gordon Cooper Technology Cen $42k 4. Green Country Technology Cen $51k 5. Wood County Technical Center $41k Compared to Mineral County Vocational Technical Center: $46k.

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 Better Value
$-767 -$3,681 $51,465 N/A 73%
Fred W Eberle Technical Center
Buckhannon, WV · Public
$2,129 -$785 $43,364 N/A 72%
Gordon Cooper Technology Center
Shawnee, OK · Public
$1,680 -$1,234 $42,021 N/A 68%
Green Country Technology Center
Okmulgee, OK · Public Better Value
$1,062 -$1,852 $51,375 N/A 64%
Wood County Technical Center-Practical Nursing
Parkersburg, WV · Public
$2,248 -$666 $40,547 N/A 64%
Kirksville Area Technical Center
Kirksville, MO · Public
$1,699 -$1,215 $40,517 N/A 64%
Middlesex College
Edison, NJ · Public Better Value
$2,288 -$626 $46,861 N/A 58%
Bridgerland Technical College
Logan, UT · Public
$2,338 -$576 $38,347 N/A 58%
Santiago Canyon College
Orange, CA · Public
$2,129 -$785 $44,956 N/A 57%
Manatee Technical College
Bradenton, FL · Public
$1,808 -$1,106 $38,129 N/A 57%
Erwin Technical College
Tampa, FL · Public
$2,796 -$118 $37,966 N/A 57%
Carroll Community College
Westminster, MD · Public
$2,725 -$189 $44,349 N/A 55%
Hartnell College
Salinas, CA · Public
$2,039 -$875 $44,316 N/A 55%
Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills, IL · Public
$2,829 -$85 $43,892 N/A 54%
Central Technology Center
Drumright, OK · Public
$2,674 -$240 $36,351 N/A 53%

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 Mineral County Vocational 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 Mineral County Vocational Technical Center?
We found 15 schools similar to Mineral County Vocational Technical Center that cost less. The closest match is Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center with 73% similarity and a net price of $-767.
What is the ROI of attending Mineral County Vocational Technical Center?
Mineral County Vocational Technical Center has an average net price of $2,914. Graduates earn a median of $46,022 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 15.8x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Mineral County Vocational Technical Center for less money?
Yes — 3 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center costs $-767 (saving $3,681) with median earnings of $51,465.
What is the cheapest alternative to Mineral County Vocational Technical Center?
The most affordable similar school is Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center at $-767, saving $3,681 compared to Mineral County Vocational Technical Center. It has a 73% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $42,964 compared to Mineral County Vocational Technical Center's $46,022. 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.