Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Morton College

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Morton College that cost less. 15 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Morton College

Cicero, Illinois · Public

$5,191
Net Price
$42,406
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
29.7%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Morton College

Morton College posts an average net price of $5,191 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 Morton 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 $3,519, achieved by Joliet Junior College at $1,672. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 15 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Morton College’s $42,406, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $43,966.

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
$3,519
Max Savings
15
Better Value Options
71%
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. Indiana University-Northwest $43k 2. University of New Mexico-Gal $45k 3. Tarrant County College Distr $43k 4. Brazosport College $46k 5. Santa Ana College $44k Compared to Morton College: $42k.

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
Indiana University-Northwest
Gary, IN · Public Better Value
$5,130 -$61 $43,361 37.1% 71%
University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus
Gallup, NM · Public Better Value
$4,868 -$323 $44,792 19.5% 64%
Tarrant County College District
Fort Worth, TX · Public Better Value
$4,337 -$854 $42,727 29.3% 63%
Brazosport College
Lake Jackson, TX · Public Better Value
$4,732 -$459 $45,910 46.8% 61%
Santa Ana College
Santa Ana, CA · Public Better Value
$3,133 -$2,058 $43,552 31.2% 60%
San Joaquin Delta College
Stockton, CA · Public Better Value
$2,407 -$2,784 $43,212 33.4% 58%
Carroll Community College
Westminster, MD · Public Better Value
$2,725 -$2,466 $44,349 43.4% 57%
Cypress College
Cypress, CA · Public Better Value
$4,606 -$585 $43,533 36.3% 54%
Hartnell College
Salinas, CA · Public Better Value
$2,039 -$3,152 $44,316 34.8% 53%
Solano Community College
Fairfield, CA · Public Better Value
$4,669 -$522 $44,170 35.1% 53%
Joliet Junior College
Joliet, IL · Public Better Value
$1,672 -$3,519 $42,889 20.7% 53%
Dodge City Community College
Dodge City, KS · Public Better Value
$4,068 -$1,123 $45,427 33.1% 52%
CUNY Queensborough Community College
Bayside, NY · Public Better Value
$4,458 -$733 $44,214 23.5% 52%
Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills, IL · Public Better Value
$2,829 -$2,362 $43,892 36.6% 52%
Golden West College
Huntington Beach, CA · Public Better Value
$4,824 -$367 $43,145 46.8% 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 Morton 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 Morton College?
We found 15 schools similar to Morton College that cost less. The closest match is Indiana University-Northwest with 71% similarity and a net price of $5,130.
What is the ROI of attending Morton College?
Morton College has an average net price of $5,191. Former students earn a median of $42,406 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 8.2x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Morton College for less money?
Yes - 15 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Indiana University-Northwest costs $5,130 (saving $61) with median earnings of $43,361.
What is the cheapest alternative to Morton College?
The most affordable similar school is Joliet Junior College at $1,672, saving $3,519 compared to Morton College. It has a 53% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $43,966 compared to Morton College's $42,406. 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.