Head-to-head comparison
Gateway Technical College vs Western Technical College: which has better ROI?
Option A Kenosha, WI
Gateway Technical College
- Net price / year
- $12,928
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,264
- Payback
- No payback
Option B La Crosse, WI
Western Technical College
- Net price / year
- $11,008
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,303
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Western Technical College comes closer — median earnings $45,303 against a $44,032 total, vs $40,264 at Gateway Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Gateway Technical College | Western Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,928 | $11,008 |
| Total net cost | $51,712 | $44,032 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,264 | $45,303 |
| Median debt | $12,165 | $11,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$213,632 | -$105,172 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Gateway Technical College or Western Technical College?
Western Technical College, at $11,008 a year after aid versus $12,928 — a gap of $1,920 a year, or $7,680 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 Gateway Technical College or Western Technical College graduates earn more?
Western Technical College graduates report a median $45,303 ten years after entry, $5,039 more than the $40,264 at Gateway 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, Gateway Technical College or Western Technical College?
Western Technical College: its completers carry a median $11,500 in federal loans versus $12,165 at Gateway Technical College, a difference of $665. 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?
51% of students finish at Gateway Technical College, against 34% at Western 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.