Aveda Institute-Tampa Bay vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but ATA Career Education comes closer — median earnings $34,577 against a $113,000 total, vs $29,449 at Aveda Institute-Tampa Bay. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aveda Institute-Tampa Bay | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,630 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $90,520 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $29,449 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $6,333 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$468,740 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Aveda Institute-Tampa Bay or ATA Career Education?
Aveda Institute-Tampa Bay, at $22,630 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $5,620 a year, or $22,480 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Aveda Institute-Tampa Bay or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
ATA Career Education graduates report a median $34,577 ten years after entry, $5,128 more than the $29,449 at Aveda Institute-Tampa Bay. 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, Aveda Institute-Tampa Bay or ATA Career Education?
Aveda Institute-Tampa Bay: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA Career Education, a difference of $14,697. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at Aveda Institute-Tampa Bay, against 67% at ATA Career Education. 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.