Gateway Technical College vs Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Gateway Technical College comes closer — median earnings $40,264 against a $51,712 total, vs $41,174 at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Gateway Technical College | Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,928 | $26,541 |
| Total net cost | $51,712 | $106,164 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,264 | $41,174 |
| Median debt | $12,165 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$213,632 | -$249,884 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Gateway Technical College or Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design?
Gateway Technical College, at $12,928 a year after aid versus $26,541 — a gap of $13,613 a year, or $54,452 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Gateway Technical College or Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design graduates earn more?
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design graduates report a median $41,174 ten years after entry, $910 more than the $40,264 at Gateway 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, Gateway Technical College or Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design?
Gateway Technical College: its completers carry a median $12,165 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, a difference of $14,835. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, against 51% at Gateway 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.