Head-to-head comparison
Chippewa Valley Technical College vs Nicolet Area 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 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 Chippewa Valley Technical College comes closer — median earnings $46,297 against a $49,140 total, vs $38,643 at Nicolet Area Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Chippewa Valley Technical College | Nicolet Area Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,285 | $8,255 |
| Total net cost | $49,140 | $33,020 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,297 | $38,643 |
| Median debt | $11,432 | $7,837 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$90,400 | -$227,360 |
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 Nicolet Area Technical College?
Nicolet Area Technical College, at $8,255 a year after aid versus $12,285 — a gap of $4,030 a year, or $16,120 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 Nicolet Area Technical College graduates earn more?
Chippewa Valley Technical College graduates report a median $46,297 ten years after entry, $7,654 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, Chippewa Valley Technical College or Nicolet Area Technical College?
Nicolet Area Technical College: its completers carry a median $7,837 in federal loans versus $11,432 at Chippewa Valley Technical College, a difference of $3,595. 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 44% at Nicolet Area 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.