College of Central Florida vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but College of Central Florida comes closer — median earnings $38,203 against a $48,352 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of Central Florida | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,088 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $48,352 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,203 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $13,000 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$251,492 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, College of Central Florida or ATA Career Education?
College of Central Florida, at $12,088 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $16,162 a year, or $64,648 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do College of Central Florida or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
College of Central Florida graduates report a median $38,203 ten years after entry, $3,626 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, College of Central Florida or ATA Career Education?
College of Central Florida: its completers carry a median $13,000 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA Career Education, a difference of $8,030. 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 44% at College of Central Florida. 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.