Charlotte Technical College vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Charlotte Technical College comes closer — median earnings $36,349 against a $23,496 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Charlotte Technical College | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,874 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $23,496 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,349 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | — | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$263,716 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Charlotte Technical College or ATA Career Education?
Charlotte Technical College, at $5,874 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $22,376 a year, or $89,504 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Charlotte Technical College or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
Charlotte Technical College graduates report a median $36,349 ten years after entry, $1,772 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 graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at ATA Career Education, against 51% at Charlotte 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.