Head-to-head comparison
Western Technical College vs Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa: which has better ROI?
Option A La Crosse, WI
Western Technical College
- Net price / year
- $11,008
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,303
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Wauwatosa, WI
Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa
- Net price / year
- $14,858
- Earnings, 10 years
- $32,568
- 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 $32,568 at Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Western Technical College | Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,008 | $14,858 |
| Total net cost | $44,032 | $29,716 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,303 | $32,568 |
| Median debt | $11,500 | $21,549 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$105,172 | -$345,556 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Western Technical College or Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa?
Western Technical College, at $11,008 a year after aid versus $14,858 — a gap of $3,850 a year, or $14,316 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 Western Technical College or Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa graduates earn more?
Western Technical College graduates report a median $45,303 ten years after entry, $12,735 more than the $32,568 at Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa. 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, Western Technical College or Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa?
Western Technical College: its completers carry a median $11,500 in federal loans versus $21,549 at Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa, a difference of $10,049. 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 Western Technical College, against 20% at Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa. 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.