Northwest State Community College vs ATA College-Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Northwest State Community College comes closer — median earnings $40,004 against a $27,110 total, vs $34,577 at ATA College-Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Northwest State Community College | ATA College-Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,555 | $27,055 |
| Total net cost | $27,110 | $108,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,004 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $9,750 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$194,230 | -$383,880 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Northwest State Community College or ATA College-Cincinnati?
Northwest State Community College, at $13,555 a year after aid versus $27,055 — a gap of $13,500 a year, or $81,110 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Northwest State Community College or ATA College-Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Northwest State Community College graduates report a median $40,004 ten years after entry, $5,427 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, Northwest State Community College or ATA College-Cincinnati?
Northwest State Community College: its completers carry a median $9,750 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA College-Cincinnati, a difference of $11,280. 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 46% at Northwest State 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.