2026 data College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Saline County Career Center

Open-data reference.

We found 8 schools structurally similar to Saline County Career Center that cost less. 8 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Saline County Career Center

Marshall, Missouri · Public

$20,386
Net Price
$37,200
Median Earnings (10yr)
50.0%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Graduation Rate

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Saline County Career Center

Saline County Career Center posts an average net price of $20,386 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 Saline County Career Center across six dimensions — ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, graduate earnings, and completion rate. 8 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $17,353, achieved by CUNY Bernard M Baruch College at $3,033. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 8 of the 8 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Saline County Career Center’s $37,200, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $75,845.

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

8
Alternatives Found
$17,353
Max Savings
8
Better Value Options
44%
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. University of Connecticut-Wa $74k 2. University of Connecticut-Av $74k 3. University of Connecticut-St $74k 4. University of Connecticut-Ha $74k 5. Purdue University-Main Campu $72k Compared to Saline County Career Center: $37k.

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
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
Waterbury, CT · Public Better Value
$10,875 -$9,511 $73,997 56.1% 44%
University of Connecticut-Avery Point
Groton, CT · Public Better Value
$13,807 -$6,579 $73,997 59.1% 44%
University of Connecticut-Stamford
Stamford, CT · Public Better Value
$16,798 -$3,588 $73,997 56.7% 44%
University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus
Hartford, CT · Public Better Value
$16,403 -$3,983 $73,997 65.2% 44%
Purdue University-Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN · Public Better Value
$14,600 -$5,786 $72,424 83.1% 44%
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY · Public Better Value
$18,784 -$1,602 $74,502 76.7% 43%
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
New York, NY · Public Better Value
$3,033 -$17,353 $75,971 72.1% 42%
Unitek College
Hayward, CA · Private For-Profit Better Value
$19,130 -$1,256 $87,877 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 Saline County Career 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 Saline County Career Center?
We found 8 schools similar to Saline County Career Center that cost less. The closest match is University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus with 44% similarity and a net price of $10,875.
What is the ROI of attending Saline County Career Center?
Saline County Career Center has an average net price of $20,386. Graduates earn a median of $37,200 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 1.8x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Saline County Career Center for less money?
Yes — 8 of 8 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus costs $10,875 (saving $9,511) with median earnings of $73,997.
What is the cheapest alternative to Saline County Career Center?
The most affordable similar school is CUNY Bernard M Baruch College at $3,033, saving $17,353 compared to Saline County Career Center. It has a 42% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 8 alternatives have an average median earnings of $75,845 compared to Saline County Career Center's $37,200. 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.