Daytona State College vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Daytona State College comes closer — median earnings $37,096 against a $14,354 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Daytona State College | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,177 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $14,354 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,096 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $8,250 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$239,634 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Daytona State College or ATA Career Education?
Daytona State College, at $7,177 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $21,073 a year, or $98,646 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Daytona State College or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
Daytona State College graduates report a median $37,096 ten years after entry, $2,519 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, Daytona State College or ATA Career Education?
Daytona State College: its completers carry a median $8,250 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA Career Education, a difference of $12,780. 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 43% at Daytona State 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.