Gateway Technical College vs Nicolet Area Technical College: 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 $38,643 at Nicolet Area Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Gateway Technical College | Nicolet Area Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,928 | $8,255 |
| Total net cost | $51,712 | $33,020 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,264 | $38,643 |
| Median debt | $12,165 | $7,837 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$213,632 | -$227,360 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Gateway Technical College or Nicolet Area Technical College?
Nicolet Area Technical College, at $8,255 a year after aid versus $12,928 — a gap of $4,673 a year, or $18,692 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 Nicolet Area Technical College graduates earn more?
Gateway Technical College graduates report a median $40,264 ten years after entry, $1,621 more than the $38,643 at Nicolet Area 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 Nicolet Area Technical College?
Nicolet Area Technical College: its completers carry a median $7,837 in federal loans versus $12,165 at Gateway Technical College, a difference of $4,328. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
51% of students finish at Gateway Technical College, against 44% at Nicolet Area 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.