Bates Technical College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Bates Technical College charges a net price of $6,292/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $25,168. Graduates earn a median $50,051 ten years after entry, $1,691/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 14.9 years — a 20-year net return of $8,652, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Bates Technical College's 14.9-year payback ranks #958 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 25% of them, and #25 of 64 in Washington.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $6,292/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $25,168 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $50,051 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $1,691/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | — | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 14.9 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $8,652 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Bates Technical College's own numbers. Net price $6,292 × 4 years = $25,168 total. Median earnings $50,051 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $1,691 a year of premium. $25,168 ÷ $1,691 = 14.9 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $8,652. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
What share of Bates Technical College students graduate?
43% finish their degree — 57% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $25,168 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $58,530 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Bates Technical College expensive compared with other Washington colleges?
Its $6,292 net price runs $5,735 below the $12,027 median across the 64 Washington colleges we profile, and $22,938 less across the full degree.