Head-to-head comparison
Lincoln Technical Institute-Shelton vs Cortiva Institute: which has better ROI?
Option A Shelton, CT
Lincoln Technical Institute-Shelton
- Net price / year
- $38,521
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,683
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Cromwell, CT
Cortiva Institute
- Net price / year
- $34,436
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,866
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lincoln Technical Institute-Shelton comes closer — median earnings $38,683 against a $154,084 total, vs $34,866 at Cortiva Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lincoln Technical Institute-Shelton | Cortiva Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $38,521 | $34,436 |
| Total net cost | $154,084 | $137,744 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,683 | $34,866 |
| Median debt | $11,250 | $11,259 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$347,624 | -$407,624 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lincoln Technical Institute-Shelton or Cortiva Institute?
Cortiva Institute, at $34,436 a year after aid versus $38,521 — a gap of $4,085 a year, or $16,340 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 Lincoln Technical Institute-Shelton or Cortiva Institute graduates earn more?
Lincoln Technical Institute-Shelton graduates report a median $38,683 ten years after entry, $3,817 more than the $34,866 at Cortiva Institute. 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, Lincoln Technical Institute-Shelton or Cortiva Institute?
Lincoln Technical Institute-Shelton: its completers carry a median $11,250 in federal loans versus $11,259 at Cortiva Institute, a difference of $9. 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?
85% of students finish at Cortiva Institute, against 65% at Lincoln Technical Institute-Shelton. 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.