2026 data College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Orange Technical College-South Campus

Open-data reference.

We found 10 schools structurally similar to Orange Technical College-South Campus that cost less. 10 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Orange Technical College-South Campus

Orlando, Florida · Public

$9,215
Net Price
$33,350
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Graduation Rate

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Orange Technical College-South Campus

Orange Technical College-South Campus posts an average net price of $9,215 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 Orange Technical College-South Campus across six dimensions — ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, graduate earnings, and completion rate. 10 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $9,982, achieved by Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center at $-767. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 10 of the 10 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Orange Technical College-South Campus’s $33,350, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $58,902.

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

10
Alternatives Found
$9,982
Max Savings
10
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. George T Baker Aviation Tech $52k 2. Central School of Practical $59k 3. Lex La-Ray Technical Center $52k 4. Ralph R Willis Career and Te $51k 5. Green Country Technology Cen $51k Compared to Orange Technical College-South Campus: $33k.

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
George T Baker Aviation Technical College
Miami, FL · Public Better Value
$7,489 -$1,726 $52,312 N/A 70%
Central School of Practical Nursing
Norfolk, VA · Public Better Value
$8,029 -$1,186 $59,399 N/A 53%
Lex La-Ray Technical Center
Lexington, MO · Public Better Value
$6,219 -$2,996 $52,142 N/A 53%
Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center
Stollings, WV · Public Better Value
$-767 -$9,982 $51,465 N/A 53%
Green Country Technology Center
Okmulgee, OK · Public Better Value
$1,062 -$8,153 $51,375 N/A 53%
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY · Public Better Value
$6,174 -$3,041 $90,610 81.5% 48%
University of Minnesota-Morris
Morris, MN · Public Better Value
$8,837 -$378 $50,919 62.2% 47%
Potomac State College of West Virginia University
Keyser, WV · Public Better Value
$9,197 -$18 $55,939 28.3% 44%
Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus
Chillicothe, OH · Public Better Value
$5,755 -$3,460 $52,581 13.2% 43%
HCA Florida Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing
Miami, FL · Private For-Profit Better Value
$9,109 -$106 $72,275 N/A 40%

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 Orange Technical College-South Campus 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 Orange Technical College-South Campus?
We found 10 schools similar to Orange Technical College-South Campus that cost less. The closest match is George T Baker Aviation Technical College with 70% similarity and a net price of $7,489.
What is the ROI of attending Orange Technical College-South Campus?
Orange Technical College-South Campus has an average net price of $9,215. Graduates earn a median of $33,350 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 3.6x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Orange Technical College-South Campus for less money?
Yes — 10 of 10 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. George T Baker Aviation Technical College costs $7,489 (saving $1,726) with median earnings of $52,312.
What is the cheapest alternative to Orange Technical College-South Campus?
The most affordable similar school is Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center at $-767, saving $9,982 compared to Orange Technical College-South Campus. It has a 53% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 10 alternatives have an average median earnings of $58,902 compared to Orange Technical College-South Campus's $33,350. 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.