2026 data College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Schoolcraft Community College District

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Schoolcraft Community College District that cost less. 6 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Schoolcraft Community College District

Livonia, Michigan · Public

$2,260
Net Price
$42,722
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
16.7%
Graduation Rate

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Schoolcraft Community College District

Schoolcraft Community College District posts an average net price of $2,260 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 Schoolcraft Community College District 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 $3,388, achieved by Oxnard College at $-1,128. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 6 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Schoolcraft Community College District’s $42,722, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $41,841.

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
$3,388
Max Savings
6
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. Joliet Junior College $43k 2. Oxnard College $41k 3. Henry Ford College $35k 4. Hartnell College $44k 5. Skyline College $56k Compared to Schoolcraft Community College District: $43k.

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
Joliet Junior College
Joliet, IL · Public Better Value
$1,672 -$588 $42,889 N/A 70%
Oxnard College
Oxnard, CA · Public
$-1,128 -$3,388 $41,393 N/A 69%
Henry Ford College
Dearborn, MI · Public
$660 -$1,600 $34,795 13.8% 69%
Hartnell College
Salinas, CA · Public Better Value
$2,039 -$221 $44,316 N/A 65%
Skyline College
San Bruno, CA · Public Better Value
$1,738 -$522 $55,702 42.8% 64%
Ventura College
Ventura, CA · Public Better Value
$-982 -$3,242 $43,430 N/A 64%
Fred W Eberle Technical Center
Buckhannon, WV · Public Better Value
$2,129 -$131 $43,364 N/A 58%
Gordon Cooper Technology Center
Shawnee, OK · Public
$1,680 -$580 $42,021 N/A 58%
Santiago Canyon College
Orange, CA · Public Better Value
$2,129 -$131 $44,956 N/A 57%
Macomb Community College
Warren, MI · Public
$1,618 -$642 $41,596 N/A 56%
Illinois Valley Community College
Oglesby, IL · Public
$2,232 -$28 $40,810 N/A 54%
South Texas College
McAllen, TX · Public
$1,751 -$509 $36,788 27.4% 54%
Imperial Valley College
Imperial, CA · Public
$1,115 -$1,145 $34,487 N/A 54%
Wood County Technical Center-Practical Nursing
Parkersburg, WV · Public
$2,248 -$12 $40,547 N/A 53%
Kirksville Area Technical Center
Kirksville, MO · Public
$1,699 -$561 $40,517 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 Schoolcraft Community College District 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 Schoolcraft Community College District?
We found 15 schools similar to Schoolcraft Community College District that cost less. The closest match is Joliet Junior College with 70% similarity and a net price of $1,672.
What is the ROI of attending Schoolcraft Community College District?
Schoolcraft Community College District has an average net price of $2,260. Graduates earn a median of $42,722 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 18.9x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Schoolcraft Community College District for less money?
Yes — 6 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Joliet Junior College costs $1,672 (saving $588) with median earnings of $42,889.
What is the cheapest alternative to Schoolcraft Community College District?
The most affordable similar school is Oxnard College at $-1,128, saving $3,388 compared to Schoolcraft Community College District. It has a 69% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $41,841 compared to Schoolcraft Community College District's $42,722. 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.