Renton Technical College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Renton Technical College charges a net price of $8,296/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $33,184. Graduates earn a median $49,782 ten years after entry, $1,422/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 23.3 years — a 20-year net return of -$4,744, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Renton Technical College's 23.3-year payback ranks #1,090 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 15% of them, and #28 of 64 in Washington.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $8,296/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $33,184 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $49,782 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $1,422/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $7,920 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 23.3 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$4,744 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Renton Technical College's own numbers. Net price $8,296 × 4 years = $33,184 total. Median earnings $49,782 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $1,422 a year of premium. $33,184 ÷ $1,422 = 23.3 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$4,744. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Renton Technical College students graduate with?
A median $7,920 in federal loans among completers, or 16% of the $49,782 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Renton Technical College students graduate?
46% finish their degree — 54% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $33,184 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $72,139 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Renton Technical College expensive compared with other Washington colleges?
Its $8,296 net price runs $3,731 below the $12,027 median across the 64 Washington colleges we profile, and $14,922 less across the full degree.