At $9,589/yr net price, Milwaukee Area Technical College graduates earn $41,113/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $7,113/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $9,589 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $38,356 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $41,113/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$7,113/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 5.4 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 24.7% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $14,955 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $8,129/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,484/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $10,820/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,033/yr |
| $110,001+ | $16,973/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $59,425 | $18,500 |
| Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians. | Associate | $54,109 | |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Associate | $51,482 | $15,344 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. | Associate | $48,563 | $15,750 |
| Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians. | Associate | $45,852 | |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. | Associate | $43,798 | |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers. | Certificate | $42,123 | |
| Precision Metal Working. | Certificate | $40,455 | $8,713 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR). | Associate | $40,281 | |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians. | Associate | $39,927 |
The Risk Factor
24.7% of students at Milwaukee Area Technical College graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
Milwaukee Area Technical College gives you a mixed financial picture that swings hard on which program you pick. The median graduate earns just over $41,000 ten years out, and with a net price under $10,000 a year, the debt load stays low at around $15,000. That low debt is the safety net here, because the earnings ceiling for most graduates is modest.
The programs that pay off are the health and skilled-trade associate degrees. Registered Nursing tops the list near $59,000, and the electromechanical and allied health tracks clear $50,000. These are the reason to enroll. If you finish one of these, your earnings run well above the school-wide median, and the debt stays reasonable. Nursing carries the highest debt of the top programs at $18,500, but the payoff justifies it.
The biggest risk is finishing at all. Fewer than one in four students graduate, so the median earnings figure describes people who completed. If you drop out, you keep the debt and lose the credential that makes these salaries possible. Enroll only if you have a concrete plan to finish a specific program, ideally nursing or a trade.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families. If your family earns under $48,000, you pay around $8,000 a year. Above $110,000, the price roughly doubles to nearly $17,000, which erases much of the value if you land in a low-earning field of study.
This school fits you if you want a nursing or skilled-trade credential, plan to work in the Milwaukee area, and can commit to finishing. It is a poor fit if you are undecided, likely to transfer without completing, or expecting a general associate degree to move your earnings much past the $41,000 median.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Milwaukee Area Technical College worth the money?
Milwaukee Area Technical College offers solid value with a low net price of $9,589 per year and median debt of only $14,955. However, the 24.7% graduation rate is concerning and could indicate completion challenges for many students.
What are the highest paying programs at Milwaukee Area Technical College?
Nursing programs lead earnings at $59,425 annually, followed by electromechanical instrumentation at $54,109. These technical programs significantly outperform the school's overall average of $41,113 in 10-year earnings.
How much debt do Milwaukee Area Technical College graduates have?
Graduates carry a median debt of $14,955, which is relatively manageable for a technical college. The low debt load helps improve the return on investment, especially for higher-earning programs.
What is the graduation rate at Milwaukee Area Technical College?
Only 24.7% of students graduate, which is low even for community colleges. This suggests many students either transfer, drop out, or take longer than expected to complete their programs.