Winthrop University vs Central Carolina Technical College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Winthrop University comes closer — median earnings $47,185 against a $61,372 total, vs $32,603 at Central Carolina Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Winthrop University | Central Carolina Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,343 | $5,571 |
| Total net cost | $61,372 | $22,284 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,185 | $32,603 |
| Median debt | $26,975 | $9,977 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$84,872 | -$337,424 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Winthrop University or Central Carolina Technical College?
Central Carolina Technical College, at $5,571 a year after aid versus $15,343 — a gap of $9,772 a year, or $39,088 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Winthrop University or Central Carolina Technical College graduates earn more?
Winthrop University graduates report a median $47,185 ten years after entry, $14,582 more than the $32,603 at Central Carolina 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, Winthrop University or Central Carolina Technical College?
Central Carolina Technical College: its completers carry a median $9,977 in federal loans versus $26,975 at Winthrop University, a difference of $16,998. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at Winthrop University, against 34% at Central Carolina 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.