Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals 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
33.0%
150%-Time Completion

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, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $3,585, achieved by Oxnard College at -$1,128. 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 $36,195.

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
$3,585
Max Savings
10
Better Value Options
78%
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. Lamar State College-Orange $37k 2. Southern Regional Technical $31k 3. Spartanburg Community Colleg $37k 4. Johnston Community College $37k 5. Durham Technical Community C $36k Compared to West Georgia Technical College: $35k.

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
Lamar State College-Orange
Orange, TX · Public Better Value
$1,655 -$802 $36,587 33.8% 78%
Southern Regional Technical College
Thomasville, GA · Public
$813 -$1,644 $31,293 33.1% 72%
Spartanburg Community College
Spartanburg, SC · Public Better Value
$2,405 -$52 $37,097 28.9% 71%
Johnston Community College
Smithfield, NC · Public Better Value
$1,776 -$681 $37,310 32.1% 64%
Durham Technical Community College
Durham, NC · Public Better Value
$1,664 -$793 $36,142 39.8% 63%
Victor Valley College
Victorville, CA · Public Better Value
$1,947 -$510 $36,119 45.4% 62%
West Shore Community College
Scottville, MI · Public Better Value
$1,527 -$930 $36,115 28.9% 58%
Oxnard College
Oxnard, CA · Public Better Value
-$1,128 -$3,585 $41,393 33.4% 55%
South Texas College
McAllen, TX · Public Better Value
$1,751 -$706 $36,788 27.4% 54%
Rockingham Community College
Wentworth, NC · Public
$2,060 -$397 $32,480 32.1% 54%
Illinois Valley Community College
Oglesby, IL · Public Better Value
$2,232 -$225 $40,810 43.3% 53%
College of the Mainland
Texas City, TX · Public Better Value
$1,342 -$1,115 $39,639 29.8% 53%
West Virginia University at Parkersburg
Parkersburg, WV · Public
$1,807 -$650 $35,171 20.0% 52%
College of the Albemarle
Elizabeth City, NC · Public
$2,253 -$204 $33,234 37.1% 52%
Florence-Darlington Technical College
Florence, SC · Public
$2,004 -$453 $32,748 26.8% 52%

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 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 78% 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. Former students 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 Oxnard College at -$1,128, saving $3,585 compared to West Georgia Technical College. It has a 55% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $36,195 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.