Jones Technical Institute 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 $24,576 at Jones Technical Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Jones Technical Institute | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,462 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $50,924 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $24,576 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $10,294 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$526,604 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Jones Technical Institute or ATA Career Education?
Jones Technical Institute, at $25,462 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $2,788 a year, or $62,076 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Jones Technical Institute or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
ATA Career Education graduates report a median $34,577 ten years after entry, $10,001 more than the $24,576 at Jones Technical Institute. 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, Jones Technical Institute or ATA Career Education?
Jones Technical Institute: its completers carry a median $10,294 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA Career Education, a difference of $10,736. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at Jones Technical Institute, against 67% at ATA Career Education. 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.