Apex Technical School vs Columbia-Greene Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbia-Greene Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,441 against a $13,118 total, vs $41,093 at Apex Technical School. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Apex Technical School | Columbia-Greene Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,826 | $6,559 |
| Total net cost | $59,304 | $13,118 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,093 | $44,441 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $12,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$204,644 | -$91,498 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Apex Technical School or Columbia-Greene Community College?
Columbia-Greene Community College, at $6,559 a year after aid versus $14,826 — a gap of $8,267 a year, or $46,186 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Apex Technical School or Columbia-Greene Community College graduates earn more?
Columbia-Greene Community College graduates report a median $44,441 ten years after entry, $3,348 more than the $41,093 at Apex Technical School. 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, Apex Technical School or Columbia-Greene Community College?
Apex Technical School: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Columbia-Greene Community College, a difference of $2,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
78% of students finish at Apex Technical School, against 46% at Columbia-Greene 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.