Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Unitek College

Open-data reference.

We found 12 schools structurally similar to Unitek College that cost less. 3 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Unitek College

Hayward, California · Private For-Profit

$19,130
Net Price
$87,877
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
67.8%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Unitek College

Unitek College posts an average net price of $19,130 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 Unitek College across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 12 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $10,021, achieved by HCA Florida Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing at $9,109. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 3 of the 12 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Unitek College’s $87,877, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $81,055.

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

12
Alternatives Found
$10,021
Max Savings
3
Better Value Options
56%
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. HCA Florida Mercy Hospital S $72k 2. Chamberlain University-India $92k 3. University of Connecticut-Ha $74k 4. Yeshiva Shaarei Torah of Roc $90k 5. New Jersey Institute of Tech $84k Compared to Unitek College: $88k.

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.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
HCA Florida Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing
Miami, FL · Private For-Profit
$9,109 -$10,021 $72,275 N/A 56%
Chamberlain University-Indiana
Indianapolis, IN · Private For-Profit Better Value
$16,149 -$2,981 $92,405 N/A 53%
University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus
Hartford, CT · Public
$16,403 -$2,727 $73,997 65.2% 49%
Yeshiva Shaarei Torah of Rockland
Suffern, NY · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$10,753 -$8,377 $89,548 N/A 46%
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, NJ · Public
$16,504 -$2,626 $84,276 72.9% 42%
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Rolla, MO · Public
$16,298 -$2,832 $82,957 64.0% 42%
University of Connecticut-Avery Point
Groton, CT · Public
$13,807 -$5,323 $73,997 59.1% 42%
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD · Private Nonprofit
$18,809 -$321 $87,555 94.2% 41%
Williams College
Williamstown, MA · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$17,716 -$1,414 $88,665 95.1% 40%
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA · Public
$13,760 -$5,370 $78,988 66.8% 40%
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
Waterbury, CT · Public
$10,875 -$8,255 $73,997 56.1% 40%
University of Connecticut-Stamford
Stamford, CT · Public
$16,798 -$2,332 $73,997 56.7% 40%

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 Unitek 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 Unitek College?
We found 12 schools similar to Unitek College that cost less. The closest match is HCA Florida Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing with 56% similarity and a net price of $9,109.
What is the ROI of attending Unitek College?
Unitek College has an average net price of $19,130. Former students earn a median of $87,877 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 4.6x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Unitek College for less money?
Yes - 3 of 12 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Chamberlain University-Indiana costs $16,149 (saving $2,981) with median earnings of $92,405.
What is the cheapest alternative to Unitek College?
The most affordable similar school is HCA Florida Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing at $9,109, saving $10,021 compared to Unitek College. It has a 56% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 12 alternatives have an average median earnings of $81,055 compared to Unitek College's $87,877. 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.