Fortis Institute-Port Saint Lucie 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 $32,886 at Fortis Institute-Port Saint Lucie. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fortis Institute-Port Saint Lucie | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,615 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $98,460 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,886 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $12,346 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$407,940 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Fortis Institute-Port Saint Lucie or ATA Career Education?
Fortis Institute-Port Saint Lucie, at $24,615 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $3,635 a year, or $14,540 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-Port Saint Lucie or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
ATA Career Education graduates report a median $34,577 ten years after entry, $1,691 more than the $32,886 at Fortis Institute-Port Saint Lucie. 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-Port Saint Lucie or ATA Career Education?
Fortis Institute-Port Saint Lucie: its completers carry a median $12,346 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA Career Education, a difference of $8,684. 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 53% at Fortis Institute-Port Saint Lucie. 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.