Head-to-head comparison
Dakota County Technical College vs Macalester College: which has better ROI?
Option A Rosemount, MN
Dakota County Technical College
- Net price / year
- $13,548
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,938
- Payback
- 7.6 yrs
Option B Saint Paul, MN
Macalester College
- Net price / year
- $32,149
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,878
- Payback
- 8.3 yrs
Dakota County Technical College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $27,096 in 7.6 years versus 8.3 years at Macalester College, on median earnings of $51,938 vs $63,878 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Dakota County Technical College | Macalester College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,548 | $32,149 |
| Total net cost | $27,096 | $128,596 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,938 | $63,878 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $23,000 |
| Payback | 7.6 yrs | 8.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $44,464 | $181,764 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Dakota County Technical College or Macalester College?
Dakota County Technical College, at $13,548 a year after aid versus $32,149 — a gap of $18,601 a year, or $101,500 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 Dakota County Technical College or Macalester College graduates earn more?
Macalester College graduates report a median $63,878 ten years after entry, $11,940 more than the $51,938 at Dakota County 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, Dakota County Technical College or Macalester College?
Dakota County Technical College: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Macalester College, a difference of $12,000. 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?
87% of students finish at Macalester College, against 58% at Dakota County 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.