Allen County Community College vs Salina Area Technical College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Salina Area Technical College comes closer — median earnings $42,175 against a $25,872 total, vs $40,059 at Allen County Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Allen County Community College | Salina Area Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,642 | $6,468 |
| Total net cost | $17,284 | $25,872 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,059 | $42,175 |
| Median debt | $6,954 | $7,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$183,304 | -$149,572 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Allen County Community College or Salina Area Technical College?
Salina Area Technical College, at $6,468 a year after aid versus $8,642 — a gap of $2,174 a year, or $8,588 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Allen County Community College or Salina Area Technical College graduates earn more?
Salina Area Technical College graduates report a median $42,175 ten years after entry, $2,116 more than the $40,059 at Allen County Community 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.
Which leaves students with less debt, Allen County Community College or Salina Area Technical College?
Allen County Community College: its completers carry a median $6,954 in federal loans versus $7,000 at Salina Area Technical College, a difference of $46. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Salina Area Technical College, against 37% at Allen County Community 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.