Okaloosa Technical College vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but ATA Career Education comes closer — median earnings $34,577 against a $113,000 total, vs $32,577 at Okaloosa Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Okaloosa Technical College | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,819 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $75,276 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,577 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | — | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$390,936 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Okaloosa Technical College or ATA Career Education?
Okaloosa Technical College, at $18,819 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $9,431 a year, or $37,724 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Okaloosa Technical College or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
ATA Career Education graduates report a median $34,577 ten years after entry, $2,000 more than the $32,577 at Okaloosa Technical College. 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?
82% of students finish at Okaloosa Technical College, 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.