Collins Career Technical Center vs ATA College-Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Collins Career Technical Center comes closer — median earnings $47,329 against a $37,872 total, vs $34,577 at ATA College-Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Collins Career Technical Center | ATA College-Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,468 | $27,055 |
| Total net cost | $37,872 | $108,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,329 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $13,887 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$58,492 | -$383,880 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Collins Career Technical Center or ATA College-Cincinnati?
Collins Career Technical Center, at $9,468 a year after aid versus $27,055 — a gap of $17,587 a year, or $70,348 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Collins Career Technical Center or ATA College-Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Collins Career Technical Center graduates report a median $47,329 ten years after entry, $12,752 more than the $34,577 at ATA College-Cincinnati. 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, Collins Career Technical Center or ATA College-Cincinnati?
Collins Career Technical Center: its completers carry a median $13,887 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA College-Cincinnati, a difference of $7,143. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
63% of students finish at ATA College-Cincinnati, against 55% at Collins Career Technical Center. 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.