New College of Florida vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but New College of Florida comes closer — median earnings $48,082 against a $28,780 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | New College of Florida | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,195 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $28,780 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,082 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $17,375 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$34,340 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, New College of Florida or ATA Career Education?
New College of Florida, at $7,195 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $21,055 a year, or $84,220 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do New College of Florida or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
New College of Florida graduates report a median $48,082 ten years after entry, $13,505 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, New College of Florida or ATA Career Education?
New College of Florida: its completers carry a median $17,375 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA Career Education, a difference of $3,655. 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 New College of Florida, against 67% at ATA Career Education. 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.