Head-to-head comparison
Chippewa Valley Technical College vs Lakeshore Technical College: which has better ROI?
Option A Eau Claire, WI
Chippewa Valley Technical College
- Net price / year
- $12,285
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,297
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Cleveland, WI
Lakeshore Technical College
- Net price / year
- $9,653
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,113
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lakeshore Technical College comes closer — median earnings $47,113 against a $38,612 total, vs $46,297 at Chippewa Valley Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Chippewa Valley Technical College | Lakeshore Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,285 | $9,653 |
| Total net cost | $49,140 | $38,612 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,297 | $47,113 |
| Median debt | $11,432 | $7,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$90,400 | -$63,552 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Chippewa Valley Technical College or Lakeshore Technical College?
Lakeshore Technical College, at $9,653 a year after aid versus $12,285 — a gap of $2,632 a year, or $10,528 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 Chippewa Valley Technical College or Lakeshore Technical College graduates earn more?
Lakeshore Technical College graduates report a median $47,113 ten years after entry, $816 more than the $46,297 at Chippewa Valley 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, Chippewa Valley Technical College or Lakeshore Technical College?
Lakeshore Technical College: its completers carry a median $7,000 in federal loans versus $11,432 at Chippewa Valley Technical College, a difference of $4,432. 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?
50% of students finish at Chippewa Valley Technical College, against 50% at Lakeshore 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.