Head-to-head comparison
Madison Area Technical College vs Blackhawk Technical College: which has better ROI?
Option A Madison, WI
Madison Area Technical College
- Net price / year
- $14,238
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,413
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Janesville, WI
Blackhawk Technical College
- Net price / year
- $9,330
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,620
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Madison Area Technical College comes closer — median earnings $45,413 against a $56,952 total, vs $41,620 at Blackhawk Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Madison Area Technical College | Blackhawk Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,238 | $9,330 |
| Total net cost | $56,952 | $37,320 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,413 | $41,620 |
| Median debt | $14,060 | $9,550 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$115,892 | -$172,120 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Madison Area Technical College or Blackhawk Technical College?
Blackhawk Technical College, at $9,330 a year after aid versus $14,238 — a gap of $4,908 a year, or $19,632 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 Madison Area Technical College or Blackhawk Technical College graduates earn more?
Madison Area Technical College graduates report a median $45,413 ten years after entry, $3,793 more than the $41,620 at Blackhawk 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, Madison Area Technical College or Blackhawk Technical College?
Blackhawk Technical College: its completers carry a median $9,550 in federal loans versus $14,060 at Madison Area Technical College, a difference of $4,510. 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?
34% of students finish at Blackhawk Technical College, against 29% at Madison 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.