2026 data College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to West Georgia Technical College

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to West Georgia Technical College that cost less. 10 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

West Georgia Technical College

Waco, Georgia · Public

$2,457
Net Price
$35,479
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Graduation Rate

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to West Georgia Technical College

West Georgia Technical College posts an average net price of $2,457 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 West Georgia 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 $2,721, achieved by Wilkes Community College at $-264. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 10 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above West Georgia Technical College’s $35,479, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $35,929.

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
$2,721
Max Savings
10
Better Value Options
76%
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. Lamar State College-Orange $37k 2. Spartanburg Community Colleg $37k 3. Victor Valley College $36k 4. Durham Technical Community C $36k 5. Southern Regional Technical $31k Compared to West Georgia Technical College: $35k.

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
Lamar State College-Orange
Orange, TX · Public Better Value
$1,655 -$802 $36,587 N/A 76%
Spartanburg Community College
Spartanburg, SC · Public Better Value
$2,405 -$52 $37,097 N/A 73%
Victor Valley College
Victorville, CA · Public Better Value
$1,947 -$510 $36,119 N/A 70%
Durham Technical Community College
Durham, NC · Public Better Value
$1,664 -$793 $36,142 N/A 68%
Southern Regional Technical College
Thomasville, GA · Public
$813 -$1,644 $31,293 N/A 68%
Illinois Valley Community College
Oglesby, IL · Public Better Value
$2,232 -$225 $40,810 N/A 60%
Johnston Community College
Smithfield, NC · Public Better Value
$1,776 -$681 $37,310 N/A 60%
West Virginia University at Parkersburg
Parkersburg, WV · Public
$1,807 -$650 $35,171 20.0% 59%
West Shore Community College
Scottville, MI · Public Better Value
$1,527 -$930 $36,115 N/A 58%
Cape Coral Technical College
Cape Coral, FL · Public Better Value
$1,463 -$994 $36,080 N/A 58%
Radford M Locklin Technical College
Milton, FL · Public Better Value
$987 -$1,470 $35,997 N/A 58%
Putnam Career and Technical Center
Eleanor, WV · Public Better Value
$1,975 -$482 $36,203 N/A 57%
Henry Ford College
Dearborn, MI · Public
$660 -$1,797 $34,795 13.8% 57%
Wilkes Community College
Wilkesboro, NC · Public
$-264 -$2,721 $34,728 N/A 57%
Imperial Valley College
Imperial, CA · Public
$1,115 -$1,342 $34,487 N/A 57%

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 West Georgia 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 West Georgia Technical College?
We found 15 schools similar to West Georgia Technical College that cost less. The closest match is Lamar State College-Orange with 76% similarity and a net price of $1,655.
What is the ROI of attending West Georgia Technical College?
West Georgia Technical College has an average net price of $2,457. Graduates earn a median of $35,479 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 14.4x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than West Georgia Technical College for less money?
Yes — 10 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Lamar State College-Orange costs $1,655 (saving $802) with median earnings of $36,587.
What is the cheapest alternative to West Georgia Technical College?
The most affordable similar school is Wilkes Community College at $-264, saving $2,721 compared to West Georgia Technical College. It has a 57% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $35,929 compared to West Georgia Technical College's $35,479. 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.