Lake-Sumter State College vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lake-Sumter State College comes closer — median earnings $39,876 against a $11,710 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lake-Sumter State College | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,855 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $11,710 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,876 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $6,750 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$181,390 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Lake-Sumter State College or ATA Career Education?
Lake-Sumter State College, at $5,855 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $22,395 a year, or $101,290 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Lake-Sumter State College or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
Lake-Sumter State College graduates report a median $39,876 ten years after entry, $5,299 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, Lake-Sumter State College or ATA Career Education?
Lake-Sumter State College: its completers carry a median $6,750 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA Career Education, a difference of $14,280. 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 48% at Lake-Sumter State 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.