Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations comes closer — median earnings $47,039 against a $60,762 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,381 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $60,762 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,039 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $20,293 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$87,182 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations or ATA Career Education?
ATA Career Education, at $28,250 a year after aid versus $30,381 — a gap of $2,131 a year, or $52,238 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations graduates report a median $47,039 ten years after entry, $12,462 more than the $34,577 at ATA Career Education. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations or ATA Career Education?
Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations: its completers carry a median $20,293 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA Career Education, a difference of $737. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at ATA Career Education, against 42% at Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.