Degree Dividend
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Mary Baldwin University vs Advanced Technology Institute: which has better ROI?

Private nonprofit, Staunton VA · vs · Private for-profit, Virginia Beach VA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Advanced Technology Institute comes closer — median earnings $46,342 against a $65,432 total, vs $44,427 at Mary Baldwin University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureMary Baldwin UniversityAdvanced Technology Institute
Net price / yr$12,756$16,358
Total net cost$51,024$65,432
Median earnings, 10 yrs$44,427$46,342
Median debt$26,586$14,873
Payback
20-year net return-$129,684-$105,792

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

Which is cheaper, Mary Baldwin University or Advanced Technology Institute?

Mary Baldwin University, at $12,756 a year after aid versus $16,358 — a gap of $3,602 a year, or $14,408 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Mary Baldwin University or Advanced Technology Institute graduates earn more?

Advanced Technology Institute graduates report a median $46,342 ten years after entry, $1,915 more than the $44,427 at Mary Baldwin University. 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, Mary Baldwin University or Advanced Technology Institute?

Advanced Technology Institute: its completers carry a median $14,873 in federal loans versus $26,586 at Mary Baldwin University, a difference of $11,713. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

79% of students finish at Advanced Technology Institute, against 39% at Mary Baldwin University. 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.

Mary Baldwin University vs Advanced Technology Institute: frequently asked questions

Is Mary Baldwin University or Advanced Technology Institute a better value?
Advanced Technology Institute 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, Mary Baldwin University or Advanced Technology Institute?
Mary Baldwin University: $12,756/yr net price after aid versus $16,358/yr at Advanced Technology Institute — a difference of $3,602 a year, or about $14,408 over four years.
Do Mary Baldwin University or Advanced Technology Institute graduates earn more?
Advanced Technology Institute graduates earn a median $46,342 ten years after entry, versus $44,427 at Mary Baldwin University — a $1,915 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.