Fortis Institute-Pensacola vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but ATA Career Education comes closer — median earnings $34,577 against a $113,000 total, vs $26,652 at Fortis Institute-Pensacola. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fortis Institute-Pensacola | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,867 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $111,468 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $26,652 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$545,628 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Fortis Institute-Pensacola or ATA Career Education?
Fortis Institute-Pensacola, at $27,867 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $383 a year, or $1,532 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Fortis Institute-Pensacola or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
ATA Career Education graduates report a median $34,577 ten years after entry, $7,925 more than the $26,652 at Fortis Institute-Pensacola. 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, Fortis Institute-Pensacola or ATA Career Education?
Fortis Institute-Pensacola: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA Career Education, a difference of $11,530. 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 54% at Fortis Institute-Pensacola. 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.