Nicolet Area Technical College vs. Southwest Tech

Comparable Facts

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

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is larger than Nicolet Area Technical College based on total student enrollment (2,849 students vs. 1,384 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Nicolet Area Technical College is located in Rhinelander, WI (Rural Fringe setting); Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is in Fennimore, WI (Distant Rural setting).
• Nicolet Area 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: Nicolet Area Technical College 9:1; Southwest Wisconsin Technical College 14:1.

Nicolet Area Technical College vs. Southwest Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Nicolet Area Technical College 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 Nicolet Area Technical College than Southwest Tech ($8,016 vs. $14,272).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Nicolet Area Technical College and Southwest Tech ($9,148).
• Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is 2.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Nicolet Area Technical College (about $111 more per year; $4,904.00 vs. $4,793.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at Southwest Tech than at Nicolet Area Technical College (about $81 more per year; $7,147.00 vs. $7,066.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College than at Nicolet Area Technical College (77% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Nicolet Area Technical College students is 24.3% larger than aid received by Southwest Wisconsin Technical College students ($6,056 vs. $4,874).

Nicolet Area Technical College vs. Southwest Tech Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Nicolet Area Technical College 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 Nicolet Area Technical College.

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

Nicolet Area Technical College vs. Southwest Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Nicolet Area Technical College 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 Southwest Wisconsin Technical College earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than Nicolet Area Technical College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,100 vs. $30,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College graduates have a $259 lower median loan debt than Nicolet Area Technical College graduates ($7,000 vs. $7,259).
• Among borrowers, Southwest Tech graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Nicolet Area Technical College graduates ($72 vs. $75).
• More Southwest Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nicolet Area Technical College students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 48%)

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.