FVTC vs. Southwest Tech

Comparable Facts

Compare Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, WI with Southwest Wisconsin Technical College in Fennimore, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Fox Valley Technical College is larger than Southwest Tech based on total student enrollment (10,670 students vs. 2,849 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fox Valley Technical College is located in Appleton, WI (Midsize Suburban setting); Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is in Fennimore, WI (Distant Rural setting).
• Fox Valley Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fox Valley Technical College 12:1; Southwest Wisconsin Technical College 14:1.

FVTC vs. Southwest Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FVTC or Southwest Tech? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fox Valley Technical College than Southwest Tech ($10,007 vs. $14,272).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Fox Valley Technical College and Southwest Tech ($9,148).
• Fox Valley Technical College is 2.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southwest Tech (about $136 more per year; $5,040.00 vs. $4,904.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.9% higher at FVTC than at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (about $136 more per year; $7,283.00 vs. $7,147.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College than at Fox Valley Technical College (77% vs. 36%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fox Valley Technical College students is 39.2% larger than aid received by Southwest Wisconsin Technical College students ($6,785 vs. $4,874).

FVTC vs. Southwest Tech Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FVTC or Southwest Tech? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Southwest Tech and FVTC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FVTC - Open admission; Southwest Tech - Open admission.

FVTC vs. Southwest Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FVTC and Southwest Tech? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than Southwest Tech graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,600 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College graduates have a $3,497 lower median loan debt than FVTC graduates ($7,000 vs. $10,497).
• Among borrowers, Southwest Tech graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than FVTC graduates ($72 vs. $108).
• More Southwest Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FVTC students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 52%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.