True College Verdict
D

Madison Area Technical College

Madison, WI · 10,073 undergraduates · 24% receive Pell Grants
PublicMainly certificates

Below average. Ask hard questions before enrolling. It ranks 1,111 of 1,952 certificate schools on student outcomes, with an overall score of 46 out of 100.

Is it affordable?
Yes
Average net price $11,919 a year after grants. Typical for similar colleges: $17,716.
Will most students finish?
About half
46% graduate within 8 years. Typical for similar colleges: 71%.
Is it worth the price?
Likely
Graduates owe a typical $14,590 against earnings of $50,548, a ratio of 0.29. Under 0.4 is comfortable; over 0.7 is heavy.

These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.

What do students really think?

You have seen the federal numbers for Madison Area Technical College. Now hear from people who went there, or add your own experience. Anonymous, no account.

Would you choose it again? That is the first question the rating form asks.

Why it is good

  • Strong pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $50,548, higher than 87% of certificate schools.
  • Affordable: the average student pays about $11,919 a year after grants, cheaper than 73% of certificate schools.

Why it is bad

  • Only 46% of students graduate. 81% of certificate schools do better.
  • Debt is heavy for the pay: graduates owe a typical $14,590 in federal loans against earnings of $50,548.

The numbers

What these figures measure

Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.

Graduation rate
46%
Better than 19% of similar colleges. Typical: 71%
Return for year 2
n/a
Typical: 77%
Earnings after 10 years
$50,548
Better than 87% of similar colleges. Typical: $36,576
Debt at graduation
$14,590
Better than 32% of similar colleges. Typical: $9,500
Net price per year
$11,919
Better than 73% of similar colleges. Typical: $17,716
Published tuition
$5,103
Out of state: $7,441

Programs and early earnings

Associate degrees: largest programs

Certificates and diplomas: largest programs

Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.

Students and reviews

Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Read and write anonymous student reviews for Madison Area Technical College, or ask and answer questions about it. Other sources:

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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other certificate schools. Individual majors can be much better or worse.