Southwest Tech vs. WITC

Comparable Facts

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

Northwood Technical College is larger than Southwest Tech based on total student enrollment (2,940 students vs. 2,849 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is located in Fennimore, WI (Distant Rural setting); Northwood Technical College is in Rice Lake, WI (Distant Rural setting).
• Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northwood Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Southwest Wisconsin Technical College 14:1; Northwood Technical College 8:1.

Southwest Tech vs. WITC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southwest Tech or WITC? 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 Northwood Technical College than Southwest Tech ($9,016 vs. $14,272).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College and WITC ($9,148).
• Northwood Technical College is 0.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southwest Tech (about $22 more per year; $4,926.00 vs. $4,904.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.3% higher at WITC than at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (about $22 more per year; $7,169.00 vs. $7,147.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College than at Northwood Technical College (77% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwood Technical College students is 17% larger than aid received by Southwest Wisconsin Technical College students ($5,704 vs. $4,874).

Southwest Tech vs. WITC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southwest Tech or WITC? 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 WITC 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; WITC - Open admission.

Southwest Tech vs. WITC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Southwest Tech and WITC? 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 $900 more per year than WITC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,100 vs. $33,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwood Technical College and Southwest Tech graduates have the same median loan debt ($7,000 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Northwood Technical College and Southwest Tech graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($72 vs. $72).
• More Southwest Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WITC students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 56%)

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.