Chippewa Valley Technical College
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 20.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.1 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $20.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $938,364.
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What The Data Says
A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
Every $1 invested returns $20.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Chippewa Valley Technical College Matters
Chippewa Valley Technical College is a public college in Eau Claire, WI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 4,272
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Chippewa Valley Technical College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,285 a year after grants and scholarships — 28% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $46,297 ten years after enrolling — 13% above the typical college, against $11,432 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 40% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.44 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of around 4,272 students, Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire, WI, is an excellent fit for those seeking hands-on training in practical fields. Students here often dive into programs like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Computer Science, among others. What stands out is the college's focus on career-specific skills, allowing students to transition smoothly into the workforce.
Looking at outcomes, graduates can expect to earn an average of $46,297 within ten years of finishing their studies. This figure gives a good sense of what a Chippewa Valley degree can mean in terms of financial mobility. The affordability of education here is also worth noting, with a net price of $12,285 after aid, making it accessible for a range of students.
In terms of managing debt, the median debt for graduates sits at $11,432, which is relatively manageable compared to many other institutions. Those who thrive at Chippewa Valley tend to be individuals who appreciate a practical, skills-based approach to learning and are looking to enter the workforce quickly. With a graduation rate of 48%, it’s clear that while some may struggle, many find their path and succeed in their chosen fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Chippewa Valley Technical College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Chippewa Valley Technical College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Chippewa Valley Technical College enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 48%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Chippewa Valley Technical College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Chippewa Valley Technical College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $7,087 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $12,285 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,483 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $11,432.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Chippewa Valley Technical College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of $46,297, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Chippewa Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Chippewa Valley Technical College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Chippewa Valley Technical College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,285/year ($49,140 total). Graduates earn $46,297 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $987,504 in total earnings — a net gain of $938,364 (20.1× your investment). The median debt is $11,432, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 48% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Chippewa Valley Technical College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Chippewa Valley Technical College is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.68%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here: roughly 10.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 16.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,900, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Top Programs
The fields Chippewa Valley Technical College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Chippewa Valley Technical College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Chippewa Valley Technical College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
As a public institution in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Chippewa Valley Technical College enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 48%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Chippewa Valley Technical College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Chippewa Valley Technical College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $7,087 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $12,285 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,483 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $11,432.
Is Chippewa Valley Technical College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of $46,297, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Does Chippewa Valley Technical College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Chippewa Valley Technical College is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.68%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here: roughly 10.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 16.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,900, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Chippewa Valley Technical College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Chippewa Valley Technical College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.44 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Chippewa Valley Technical College.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Chippewa Valley Technical College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Chippewa Valley Technical College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.44 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note