Lakeland Community College vs ATA College-Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lakeland Community College comes closer — median earnings $39,612 against a $15,212 total, vs $34,577 at ATA College-Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lakeland Community College | ATA College-Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,606 | $27,055 |
| Total net cost | $15,212 | $108,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,612 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $14,751 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$190,172 | -$383,880 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Lakeland Community College or ATA College-Cincinnati?
Lakeland Community College, at $7,606 a year after aid versus $27,055 — a gap of $19,449 a year, or $93,008 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Lakeland Community College or ATA College-Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Lakeland Community College graduates report a median $39,612 ten years after entry, $5,035 more than the $34,577 at ATA College-Cincinnati. 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, Lakeland Community College or ATA College-Cincinnati?
Lakeland Community College: its completers carry a median $14,751 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA College-Cincinnati, a difference of $6,279. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
63% of students finish at ATA College-Cincinnati, against 24% at Lakeland Community 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.