Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale comes closer — median earnings $39,696 against a $60,996 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,498 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $60,996 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,696 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $26,125 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$234,276 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale or ATA Career Education?
ATA Career Education, at $28,250 a year after aid versus $30,498 — a gap of $2,248 a year, or $52,004 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale graduates report a median $39,696 ten years after entry, $5,119 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, Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale or ATA Career Education?
ATA Career Education: its completers carry a median $21,030 in federal loans versus $26,125 at Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale, a difference of $5,095. 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 61% at Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale. 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.