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Kentucky Wesleyan College vs ATA College: which has better ROI?

Private nonprofit, Owensboro KY · vs · Private for-profit, Louisville KY

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Kentucky Wesleyan College comes closer — median earnings $46,747 against a $68,524 total, vs $34,577 at ATA College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureKentucky Wesleyan CollegeATA College
Net price / yr$17,131$28,611
Total net cost$68,524$57,222
Median earnings, 10 yrs$46,747$34,577
Median debt$23,250$21,030
Payback
20-year net return-$100,784-$332,882

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Kentucky Wesleyan College or ATA College?

Kentucky Wesleyan College, at $17,131 a year after aid versus $28,611 — a gap of $11,480 a year, or $11,302 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Kentucky Wesleyan College or ATA College graduates earn more?

Kentucky Wesleyan College graduates report a median $46,747 ten years after entry, $12,170 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, Kentucky Wesleyan College or ATA College?

ATA College: its completers carry a median $21,030 in federal loans versus $23,250 at Kentucky Wesleyan College, a difference of $2,220. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

47% of students finish at Kentucky Wesleyan College, 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.

Kentucky Wesleyan College vs ATA College: frequently asked questions

Is Kentucky Wesleyan College or ATA College a better value?
Kentucky Wesleyan College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Kentucky Wesleyan College or ATA College?
Kentucky Wesleyan College: $17,131/yr net price after aid versus $28,611/yr at ATA College — a difference of $11,480 a year, or about $11,302 over four years.
Do Kentucky Wesleyan College or ATA College graduates earn more?
Kentucky Wesleyan College graduates earn a median $46,747 ten years after entry, versus $34,577 at ATA College — a $12,170 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.