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Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

#3 Most Affordable Colleges in Ohio
Public Cincinnati, OH · Urban · Great Lakes · 87% data
A Value A Affordability B Diversity
Graduation Rate
18% F
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$40,137 C
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$4,968 A
71% less than the typical college
Enrollment
5,667
Earnings -2% vs avg
Graduation -68% vs avg
Net Price +-71% vs avg
Mobility Top 91%

Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 46.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $46.9 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Most Affordable Colleges in Ohio.

46.9× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $46.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $912,335.

What The Data Says

  1. A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduation of 18% — 68% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $46.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public College
Carnegie Class
Associate's College
Enrollment
5,667
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Humanities, Business & Marketing, Culinary & Personal Services

Why students choose Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 47% overall
C
Earnings
$40,137 median
A
Value
8.1× net price
A
Affordability
$4,968/yr net
F
Graduation
18% graduate
F
Social Mobility
0.7% climb Q1→Q5
B
Diversity
0.67 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With around 5,667 students, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is a solid choice for those looking for hands-on training in practical fields. If you’re interested in Health Professions, Business & Marketing, or even something creative like Culinary & Personal Services, this school offers a range of programs that cater to real-world skills. The focus here is on preparing students for careers that matter, and with a graduation rate of 18%, it’s clear that those who thrive are often deeply engaged with their studies.

Looking at life after graduation, students can expect to earn about $40,137 a year within a decade of completing their programs. This figure highlights the potential for upward mobility, especially for those who take full advantage of the college's offerings. The affordability factor is significant too, as roughly 30% of students receive Pell Grants, which can help ease the financial load during their studies.

When it comes to the bottom line, the cost after aid is approximately $4,968, which is quite reasonable for community college. Students graduate with a median debt of $14,715, a manageable figure for many. Those who tend to thrive here are often individuals looking for practical skills to enter the workforce quickly, and who are ready to engage with their community through hands-on experiences.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Cincinnati State Technical and Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 18%.

Retention Rate
50%
Full-Time Faculty
100%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$9,970
Student–Faculty Ratio
12:1
Diversity Index
0.67
First-Gen Students
46%

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 Cincinnati State Technical and Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is $10,044, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $4,968. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $2,823 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $14,715 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$5,517
Out-of-State
$10,044
Avg Net Price
$4,968
Median Debt
$14,715
Pell Grant Rate
30%
Federal Loan Rate
27%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$2,823
Family Income $30K–$48K
$3,377
Family Income $48K–$75K
$6,077
Family Income $110K+
$11,878

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Cincinnati State Technical and Community College report median earnings of $40,137, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$35,314
8 Years
$37,127
10 Years
$40,137
Debt-to-Earnings
0.37x
Earning > $25K
50%

Earnings Trajectory

$35,314 6yr $37,127 8yr $40,137 10yr

How Cincinnati Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation18%Earnings 10yr$40KNet Price$5KRetention50%Median Debt$15KPell Grant Rate30%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$3K$0-30K$3K$30-48K$6K$48-75K$12K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%12.7%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%5.7%MOBILITY0.73%

College ROI Calculator

Is Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $4,968/year ($19,872 total). Graduates earn $40,137 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $932,207 in total earnings — a net gain of $912,335 (46.9× your investment). The median debt is $14,715, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 18% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$19,872
Projected 20yr Earnings
$932,207
Net Return
$912,335
ROI Multiple
46.9×
Cost Per Year
$4,968
Median Debt
$14,715
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
18%

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 Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.73%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 12.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 5.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $68,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
0.73%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
5.7%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
12.7%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$68,800

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Cincinnati State Technical and Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.73, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias runs higher (0.26), suggesting students tend to form ties within their own economic group. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
0.73
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.26
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
5.9%
Support Ratio
0.93
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$1,725,345
Investment Income
$-262,145

Top Programs

The fields Cincinnati State Technical and Community 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Cincinnati State Technical and Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 18%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Cincinnati State Technical and Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is $10,044, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $4,968. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $2,823 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $14,715 in federal student loans.

Is Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Cincinnati State Technical and Community College report median earnings of $40,137, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

Does Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.73%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 12.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 5.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $68,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Cincinnati State Technical and Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.73, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias runs higher (0.26), suggesting students tend to form ties within their own economic group. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys