Blackhawk Technical College vs Lakeshore Technical College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lakeshore Technical College comes closer — median earnings $47,113 against a $38,612 total, vs $41,620 at Blackhawk Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Blackhawk Technical College | Lakeshore Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,330 | $9,653 |
| Total net cost | $37,320 | $38,612 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,620 | $47,113 |
| Median debt | $9,550 | $7,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$172,120 | -$63,552 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Blackhawk Technical College or Lakeshore Technical College?
Blackhawk Technical College, at $9,330 a year after aid versus $9,653 — a gap of $323 a year, or $1,292 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Blackhawk Technical College or Lakeshore Technical College graduates earn more?
Lakeshore Technical College graduates report a median $47,113 ten years after entry, $5,493 more than the $41,620 at Blackhawk 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 leaves students with less debt, Blackhawk Technical College or Lakeshore Technical College?
Lakeshore Technical College: its completers carry a median $7,000 in federal loans versus $9,550 at Blackhawk Technical College, a difference of $2,550. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
50% of students finish at Lakeshore Technical College, against 34% at Blackhawk 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.