Pratt Community College vs Manhattan Area Technical College: which has better ROI?
Pratt Community College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $38,924 in 11 years versus 11.5 years at Manhattan Area Technical College, on median earnings of $51,892 vs $51,864 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pratt Community College | Manhattan Area Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,731 | $10,074 |
| Total net cost | $38,924 | $40,296 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,892 | $51,864 |
| Median debt | $6,500 | $9,500 |
| Payback | 11 yrs | 11.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $31,716 | $29,784 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Pratt Community College or Manhattan Area Technical College?
Pratt Community College, at $9,731 a year after aid versus $10,074 — a gap of $343 a year, or $1,372 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Pratt Community College or Manhattan Area Technical College graduates earn more?
Pratt Community College graduates report a median $51,892 ten years after entry, $28 more than the $51,864 at Manhattan 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, Pratt Community College or Manhattan Area Technical College?
Pratt Community College: its completers carry a median $6,500 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Manhattan Area Technical College, a difference of $3,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
74% of students finish at Manhattan Area Technical College, against 45% at Pratt Community 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.