Bates Technical College vs Bellingham Technical College: which has better ROI?
Bates Technical College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $25,168 in 14.9 years versus 17.3 years at Bellingham Technical College, on median earnings of $50,051 vs $49,748 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bates Technical College | Bellingham Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,292 | $5,997 |
| Total net cost | $25,168 | $23,988 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,051 | $49,748 |
| Median debt | — | $17,459 |
| Payback | 14.9 yrs | 17.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $8,652 | $3,772 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bates Technical College or Bellingham Technical College?
Bellingham Technical College, at $5,997 a year after aid versus $6,292 — a gap of $295 a year, or $1,180 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Bates Technical College or Bellingham Technical College graduates earn more?
Bates Technical College graduates report a median $50,051 ten years after entry, $303 more than the $49,748 at Bellingham Technical 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 graduates more of its students?
43% of students finish at Bates Technical College, against 42% at Bellingham 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.