Tompkins Cortland Community College vs Apex Technical School: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Tompkins Cortland Community College comes closer — median earnings $40,707 against a $25,446 total, vs $41,093 at Apex Technical School. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tompkins Cortland Community College | Apex Technical School |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,723 | $14,826 |
| Total net cost | $25,446 | $59,304 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,707 | $41,093 |
| Median debt | $15,750 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$178,506 | -$204,644 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Tompkins Cortland Community College or Apex Technical School?
Tompkins Cortland Community College, at $12,723 a year after aid versus $14,826 — a gap of $2,103 a year, or $33,858 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Tompkins Cortland Community College or Apex Technical School graduates earn more?
Apex Technical School graduates report a median $41,093 ten years after entry, $386 more than the $40,707 at Tompkins Cortland Community 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, Tompkins Cortland Community College or Apex Technical School?
Apex Technical School: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $15,750 at Tompkins Cortland Community College, a difference of $6,250. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
78% of students finish at Apex Technical School, against 26% at Tompkins Cortland 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.