2026 data College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College that cost less. 15 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College

Bowling Green, Kentucky · Public

$3,537
Net Price
$34,242
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Graduation Rate

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College posts an average net price of $3,537 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 Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College 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 $3,469, achieved by New Mexico State University-Grants at $68. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 15 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College’s $34,242, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $39,947.

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
$3,469
Max Savings
15
Better Value Options
64%
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. Spoon River College $38k 2. Taft College $39k 3. College of the Mainland $40k 4. Carroll Community College $44k 5. Joliet Junior College $43k Compared to Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College: $34k.

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
Spoon River College
Canton, IL · Public Better Value
$3,415 -$122 $38,386 N/A 64%
Taft College
Taft, CA · Public Better Value
$2,823 -$714 $38,861 28.0% 59%
College of the Mainland
Texas City, TX · Public Better Value
$1,342 -$2,195 $39,639 29.8% 58%
Carroll Community College
Westminster, MD · Public Better Value
$2,725 -$812 $44,349 N/A 57%
Joliet Junior College
Joliet, IL · Public Better Value
$1,672 -$1,865 $42,889 N/A 53%
Texas Southmost College
Brownsville, TX · Public Better Value
$3,085 -$452 $41,900 N/A 53%
Lake Land College
Mattoon, IL · Public Better Value
$2,254 -$1,283 $38,877 N/A 52%
Southwest College for the Deaf
Big Spring, TX · Public Better Value
$2,458 -$1,079 $38,382 N/A 44%
Del Mar College
Corpus Christi, TX · Public Better Value
$3,399 -$138 $38,656 11.9% 43%
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Kalamazoo, MI · Public Better Value
$2,979 -$558 $38,618 N/A 43%
Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College
Ruidoso, NM · Public Better Value
$2,042 -$1,495 $38,550 N/A 43%
Victoria College
Victoria, TX · Public Better Value
$3,043 -$494 $42,382 N/A 42%
Yuba College
Marysville, CA · Public Better Value
$2,576 -$961 $39,552 N/A 42%
College of the Sequoias
Visalia, CA · Public Better Value
$480 -$3,057 $39,092 N/A 41%
New Mexico State University-Grants
Grants, NM · Public Better Value
$68 -$3,469 $39,067 N/A 41%

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 Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical 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 Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College?
We found 15 schools similar to Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College that cost less. The closest match is Spoon River College with 64% similarity and a net price of $3,415.
What is the ROI of attending Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College?
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College has an average net price of $3,537. Graduates earn a median of $34,242 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 9.7x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College for less money?
Yes — 15 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Spoon River College costs $3,415 (saving $122) with median earnings of $38,386.
What is the cheapest alternative to Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College?
The most affordable similar school is New Mexico State University-Grants at $68, saving $3,469 compared to Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College. It has a 41% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $39,947 compared to Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College's $34,242. 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.