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Ashland Community and Technical College vs Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education: which has better ROI?

Public, Ashland KY · vs · Private nonprofit, Lexington KY

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Ashland Community and Technical College comes closer — median earnings $34,504 against a $22,868 total, vs $20,156 at Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureAshland Community and Technical CollegeEmployment Solutions-College for Technical Education
Net price / yr$5,717$22,871
Total net cost$22,868$91,484
Median earnings, 10 yrs$34,504$20,156
Median debt$10,950$11,600
Payback
20-year net return-$299,988-$655,564

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Ashland Community and Technical College or Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education?

Ashland Community and Technical College, at $5,717 a year after aid versus $22,871 — a gap of $17,154 a year, or $68,616 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Ashland Community and Technical College or Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education graduates earn more?

Ashland Community and Technical College graduates report a median $34,504 ten years after entry, $14,348 more than the $20,156 at Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education. 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, Ashland Community and Technical College or Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education?

Ashland Community and Technical College: its completers carry a median $10,950 in federal loans versus $11,600 at Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education, a difference of $650. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

63% of students finish at Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education, against 51% at Ashland Community and Technical 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.

Ashland Community and Technical College vs Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education: frequently asked questions

Is Ashland Community and Technical College or Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education a better value?
Ashland Community and Technical College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Ashland Community and Technical College or Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education?
Ashland Community and Technical College: $5,717/yr net price after aid versus $22,871/yr at Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education — a difference of $17,154 a year, or about $68,616 over four years.
Do Ashland Community and Technical College or Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education graduates earn more?
Ashland Community and Technical College graduates earn a median $34,504 ten years after entry, versus $20,156 at Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education — a $14,348 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.