Southwest Tech vs. CVTC

Comparable Facts

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

Chippewa Valley Technical College is larger than Southwest Tech based on total student enrollment (8,330 students vs. 2,849 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is located in Fennimore, WI (Distant Rural setting); Chippewa Valley Technical College is in Eau Claire, WI (Small City setting).
• Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Chippewa Valley Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Southwest Wisconsin Technical College 14:1; Chippewa Valley Technical College 14:1.

Southwest Tech vs. CVTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southwest Tech or CVTC? 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 Chippewa Valley Technical College than Southwest Tech ($10,992 vs. $14,272).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chippewa Valley Technical College are 0% lower than at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College ($9,147 vs. $9,148).
• Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is 1.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than CVTC (about $60 more per year; $4,904.00 vs. $4,844.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at Southwest Tech than at Chippewa Valley Technical College (about $60 more per year; $7,147.00 vs. $7,087.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College than at Chippewa Valley Technical College (77% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Chippewa Valley Technical College students is 27.2% larger than aid received by Southwest Wisconsin Technical College students ($6,200 vs. $4,874).

Southwest Tech vs. CVTC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southwest Tech or CVTC? 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 CVTC and Southwest Tech.

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

Southwest Tech vs. CVTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Southwest Tech and CVTC? 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 Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than Southwest Tech graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,400 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than CVTC graduates ($7,000 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Southwest Tech graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CVTC graduates ($72 vs. $124).
• More Southwest Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CVTC students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 49%)

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.