Head-to-head comparison
Blackhawk Technical College vs Nicolet Area Technical College: which has better ROI?
Option A Janesville, WI
Blackhawk Technical College
- Net price / year
- $9,330
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,620
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Rhinelander, WI
Nicolet Area Technical College
- Net price / year
- $8,255
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,643
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Blackhawk Technical College comes closer — median earnings $41,620 against a $37,320 total, vs $38,643 at Nicolet Area Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Blackhawk Technical College | Nicolet Area Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,330 | $8,255 |
| Total net cost | $37,320 | $33,020 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,620 | $38,643 |
| Median debt | $9,550 | $7,837 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$172,120 | -$227,360 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Blackhawk Technical College or Nicolet Area Technical College?
Nicolet Area Technical College, at $8,255 a year after aid versus $9,330 — a gap of $1,075 a year, or $4,300 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Blackhawk Technical College or Nicolet Area Technical College graduates earn more?
Blackhawk Technical College graduates report a median $41,620 ten years after entry, $2,977 more than the $38,643 at Nicolet Area Technical College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Blackhawk Technical College or Nicolet Area Technical College?
Nicolet Area Technical College: its completers carry a median $7,837 in federal loans versus $9,550 at Blackhawk Technical College, a difference of $1,713. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
44% of students finish at Nicolet Area Technical College, against 34% at Blackhawk Technical College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.