Milwaukee Area Technical College vs Madison Area Technical College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Madison Area Technical College comes closer — median earnings $45,413 against a $56,952 total, vs $41,113 at Milwaukee Area Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Milwaukee Area Technical College | Madison Area Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,112 | $14,238 |
| Total net cost | $36,448 | $56,952 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,113 | $45,413 |
| Median debt | $14,955 | $14,060 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$181,388 | -$115,892 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Milwaukee Area Technical College or Madison Area Technical College?
Milwaukee Area Technical College, at $9,112 a year after aid versus $14,238 — a gap of $5,126 a year, or $20,504 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Milwaukee Area Technical College or Madison Area Technical College graduates earn more?
Madison Area Technical College graduates report a median $45,413 ten years after entry, $4,300 more than the $41,113 at Milwaukee 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, Milwaukee Area Technical College or Madison Area Technical College?
Madison Area Technical College: its completers carry a median $14,060 in federal loans versus $14,955 at Milwaukee Area Technical College, a difference of $895. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
29% of students finish at Madison Area Technical College, against 25% at Milwaukee 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.