Madison Area Technical College vs Fox Valley Technical College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Fox Valley Technical College comes closer — median earnings $45,684 against a $45,628 total, vs $45,413 at Madison Area Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Madison Area Technical College | Fox Valley Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,238 | $11,407 |
| Total net cost | $56,952 | $45,628 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,413 | $45,684 |
| Median debt | $14,060 | $10,402 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$115,892 | -$99,148 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Madison Area Technical College or Fox Valley Technical College?
Fox Valley Technical College, at $11,407 a year after aid versus $14,238 — a gap of $2,831 a year, or $11,324 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Madison Area Technical College or Fox Valley Technical College graduates earn more?
Fox Valley Technical College graduates report a median $45,684 ten years after entry, $271 more than the $45,413 at Madison 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, Madison Area Technical College or Fox Valley Technical College?
Fox Valley Technical College: its completers carry a median $10,402 in federal loans versus $14,060 at Madison Area Technical College, a difference of $3,658. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
65% of students finish at Fox Valley Technical College, against 29% at Madison 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.