Madison Area Technical College
- Graduation Rate
- 28% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $45,413 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $14,238 C+
- 17% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 10,073
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 18.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.0 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $18.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $965,515.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 28% — 52% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $18.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Madison Area Technical College Matters
Madison Area Technical College is a public college in Madison, 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
- 10,073
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Mechanic & Repair Tech
Why students choose Madison Area 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 $14,238 a year after grants and scholarships — 17% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $45,413 ten years after enrolling — 11% above the typical college, against $14,060 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 89% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.32 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With over 10,000 students enrolled, Madison Area Technical College attracts those looking for practical, career-focused education. This school is especially appealing to individuals interested in fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Mechanic & Repair Tech, and Criminal Justice. The diversity in programs means there’s likely something here for everyone, whether you're aiming for a technical certificate or an associate degree.
Looking at life after graduation, students earn an average of $45,413 within ten years of completing their programs. For many, this is a solid starting point as they embark on their careers. The affordability factor is significant too, with a net price of $14,238 after financial aid. This makes training for a new career or advancing in one more accessible, especially for those who qualify for Pell Grants, which 20% of students do.
When considering the practical aspects, the median debt for graduates stands at $14,060. This level of debt is manageable for many, particularly given the average earnings. Students who tend to thrive here are those who are focused on practical skills and career outcomes. Whether you’re coming directly from high school or looking to change careers, Madison Area Technical College offers a supportive environment for pursuing your goals.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Madison Area 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 Madison Area Technical College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Madison Area Technical College, located in Madison, Wisconsin, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 28%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 38%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,116
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.62
- First-Gen Students
- 40%
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 Madison Area Technical College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Madison Area Technical College is $7,255, 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 $14,238. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,920 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $14,060 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,977
- Out-of-State
- $7,255
- Avg Net Price
- $14,238
- Median Debt
- $14,060
- Pell Grant Rate
- 20%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 16%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $11,920
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $12,403
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,692
- Family Income $110K+
- $19,245
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Madison Area Technical College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Madison Area Technical College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Madison Area Technical College earn a median of $45,413, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $40,928
- 8 Years
- $43,373
- 10 Years
- $45,413
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.31x
- Earning > $25K
- 61%
Earnings Trajectory
How Madison 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 Madison Area Technical College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Madison Area Technical College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,238/year ($56,952 total). Graduates earn $45,413 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,022,467 in total earnings — a net gain of $965,515 (18.0× your investment). The median debt is $14,060, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 28% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $56,952
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,022,467
- Net Return
- $965,515
- ROI Multiple
- 18.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $14,238
- Median Debt
- $14,060
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 28%
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 Madison Area Technical College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Madison Area Technical 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 0.76%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 7.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $74,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.76%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 9.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 7.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $101,627
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Top Programs
The fields Madison Area Technical College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 43% $74,962 early-career
- Business & Marketing 13% $47,289 early-career
- Humanities 12%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 6% $66,005 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 4% $66,812 early-career
- Criminal Justice 4% $44,473 early-career
- Precision Production 3% $52,505 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 2% $35,293 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Madison Area Technical College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Madison Area Technical College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Madison Area Technical College, located in Madison, Wisconsin, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 28%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Madison Area Technical College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Madison Area Technical College is $7,255, 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 $14,238. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,920 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $14,060 in federal student loans.
Is Madison Area Technical College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Madison Area Technical College earn a median of $45,413, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Madison Area Technical College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Madison Area Technical 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 0.76%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 7.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $74,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Madison Area 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 Madison Area Technical College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.32, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Madison Area Technical College.
- Front Range Community CollegeWestminster, CO · Close peer33% grad $45,910 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Rio Hondo CollegeWhittier, CA · Close peer26% grad $44,950 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Prairie View A & M UniversityPrairie View, TX · Close peer43% grad $45,411 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar net price
- Utah Tech UniversitySaint George, UT · Close peer36% grad $44,570 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- University of Akron Main CampusAkron, OH · Close peer50% grad $46,600 earn 60% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar net price
- Georgia Gwinnett CollegeLawrenceville, GA · Close peer21% grad $47,730 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Madison Area 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 Madison Area Technical College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.32, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note