Eastern Kentucky University vs ATA College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Eastern Kentucky University comes closer — median earnings $45,795 against a $44,160 total, vs $34,577 at ATA College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Eastern Kentucky University | ATA College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,040 | $28,611 |
| Total net cost | $44,160 | $57,222 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,795 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$95,460 | -$332,882 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Eastern Kentucky University or ATA College?
Eastern Kentucky University, at $11,040 a year after aid versus $28,611 — a gap of $17,571 a year, or $13,062 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Eastern Kentucky University or ATA College graduates earn more?
Eastern Kentucky University graduates report a median $45,795 ten years after entry, $11,218 more than the $34,577 at ATA 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, Eastern Kentucky University or ATA College?
ATA College: its completers carry a median $21,030 in federal loans versus $22,500 at Eastern Kentucky University, a difference of $1,470. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
50% of students finish at Eastern Kentucky University, against 46% at ATA 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.