Nicolet Area Technical College vs. Western Wisconsin Technical College

Comparable Facts

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

Western Technical College is larger than Nicolet Area Technical College based on total student enrollment (3,625 students vs. 1,384 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Nicolet Area Technical College is located in Rhinelander, WI (Rural Fringe setting); Western Technical College is in La Crosse, WI (Small City setting).
• Nicolet Area Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Western Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Nicolet Area Technical College 9:1; Western Technical College 9:1.

Nicolet Area Technical College vs. Western Wisconsin Technical College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Nicolet Area Technical College or Western Wisconsin Technical College? 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 Western Wisconsin Technical College ($8,016 vs. $10,037).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Technical College are 8.5% lower than at Nicolet Area Technical College ($8,374 vs. $9,148).
• Western Technical College is 0.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Nicolet Area Technical College (about $27 more per year; $4,820.00 vs. $4,793.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.2% higher at Western Wisconsin Technical College than at Nicolet Area Technical College (about $12 more per year; $7,078.00 vs. $7,066.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Nicolet Area Technical College than at Western Technical College (59% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Technical College students is 1.4% larger than aid received by Nicolet Area Technical College students ($6,139 vs. $6,056).

Nicolet Area Technical College vs. Western Wisconsin Technical College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Nicolet Area Technical College or Western Wisconsin Technical College? 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 Western Wisconsin Technical College 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; Western Wisconsin Technical College - Open admission.

Nicolet Area Technical College vs. Western Wisconsin Technical College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Nicolet Area Technical College and Western Wisconsin Technical College? 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 Western Technical College earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than Nicolet Area Technical College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,200 vs. $30,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Nicolet Area Technical College graduates have a $4,041 lower median loan debt than Western Wisconsin Technical College graduates ($7,259 vs. $11,300).
• Among borrowers, Nicolet Area Technical College graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Western Wisconsin Technical College graduates ($75 vs. $116).
• More Western Wisconsin Technical College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nicolet Area Technical College students, three years after graduation. (50% 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.