Big Sandy Community and Technical College vs ATA College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Big Sandy Community and Technical College comes closer — median earnings $32,954 against a $15,492 total, vs $34,577 at ATA College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Big Sandy Community and Technical College | ATA College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,873 | $28,611 |
| Total net cost | $15,492 | $57,222 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,954 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $9,357 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$323,612 | -$332,882 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Big Sandy Community and Technical College or ATA College?
Big Sandy Community and Technical College, at $3,873 a year after aid versus $28,611 — a gap of $24,738 a year, or $41,730 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Big Sandy Community and Technical College or ATA College graduates earn more?
ATA College graduates report a median $34,577 ten years after entry, $1,623 more than the $32,954 at Big Sandy Community and Technical College. 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, Big Sandy Community and Technical College or ATA College?
Big Sandy Community and Technical College: its completers carry a median $9,357 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA College, a difference of $11,673. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
46% of students finish at ATA College, against 38% at Big Sandy Community and Technical College. 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.