Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College comes closer — median earnings $35,014 against a $11,356 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $2,839 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $11,356 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,014 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | — | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$278,276 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College or ATA Career Education?
Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College, at $2,839 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $25,411 a year, or $101,644 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College graduates report a median $35,014 ten years after entry, $437 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 graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at ATA Career Education, against 5% at Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical 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.