Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Technical College of the Rockies

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Technical College of the Rockies that cost less. 5 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Technical College of the Rockies

Delta, Colorado · Public

$3,796
Net Price
$45,516
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
95.7%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Technical College of the Rockies

Technical College of the Rockies posts an average net price of $3,796 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 Technical College of the Rockies 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 $4,563, achieved by Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center at -$767. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 5 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Technical College of the Rockies’s $45,516, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $44,888.

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
$4,563
Max Savings
5
Better Value Options
79%
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. Fred W Eberle Technical Cent $43k 2. Gordon Cooper Technology Cen $42k 3. United Technical Center $49k 4. Mineral County Vocational Te $46k 5. Wood County Technical Center $41k Compared to Technical College of the Rockies: $46k.

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.

A negative College Scorecard net price means the institution reported average grant and scholarship aid above its cost-of-attendance estimate for the covered first-time, full-time aid recipients. It is a cohort average, not a promise that every student is paid to attend.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
Fred W Eberle Technical Center
Buckhannon, WV · Public
$2,129 -$1,667 $43,364 98.7% 79%
Gordon Cooper Technology Center
Shawnee, OK · Public
$1,680 -$2,116 $42,021 84.7% 77%
United Technical Center
Clarksburg, WV · Public Better Value
$3,461 -$335 $49,130 N/A 69%
Mineral County Vocational Technical Center
Keyser, WV · Public Better Value
$2,914 -$882 $46,022 75.5% 69%
Wood County Technical Center-Practical Nursing
Parkersburg, WV · Public
$2,248 -$1,548 $40,547 N/A 65%
Pontotoc Technology Center
Ada, OK · Public
$3,164 -$632 $40,955 82.4% 59%
Kirksville Area Technical Center
Kirksville, MO · Public
$1,699 -$2,097 $40,517 86.1% 58%
Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center
Stollings, WV · Public Better Value
-$767 -$4,563 $51,465 87.1% 57%
Green Country Technology Center
Okmulgee, OK · Public Better Value
$1,062 -$2,734 $51,375 75.6% 57%
Santiago Canyon College
Orange, CA · Public
$2,129 -$1,667 $44,956 47.4% 51%
Carroll Community College
Westminster, MD · Public
$2,725 -$1,071 $44,349 43.4% 50%
Hartnell College
Salinas, CA · Public
$2,039 -$1,757 $44,316 34.8% 50%
Middlesex College
Edison, NJ · Public Better Value
$2,288 -$1,508 $46,861 34.0% 49%
Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills, IL · Public
$2,829 -$967 $43,892 36.6% 49%
Santa Ana College
Santa Ana, CA · Public
$3,133 -$663 $43,552 31.2% 48%

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 Technical College of the Rockies 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 Technical College of the Rockies?
We found 15 schools similar to Technical College of the Rockies that cost less. The closest match is Fred W Eberle Technical Center with 79% similarity and a net price of $2,129.
What is the ROI of attending Technical College of the Rockies?
Technical College of the Rockies has an average net price of $3,796. Former students earn a median of $45,516 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 12.0x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Technical College of the Rockies for less money?
Yes - 5 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. United Technical Center costs $3,461 (saving $335) with median earnings of $49,130.
What is the cheapest alternative to Technical College of the Rockies?
The most affordable similar school is Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center at -$767, saving $4,563 compared to Technical College of the Rockies. It has a 57% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $44,888 compared to Technical College of the Rockies's $45,516. 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.