Pasco-Hernando State College vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Pasco-Hernando State College comes closer — median earnings $39,903 against a $10,406 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pasco-Hernando State College | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,203 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $10,406 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,903 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $9,535 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$179,546 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Pasco-Hernando State College or ATA Career Education?
Pasco-Hernando State College, at $5,203 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $23,047 a year, or $102,594 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Pasco-Hernando State College or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
Pasco-Hernando State College graduates report a median $39,903 ten years after entry, $5,326 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, Pasco-Hernando State College or ATA Career Education?
Pasco-Hernando State College: its completers carry a median $9,535 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA Career Education, a difference of $11,495. 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 ATA Career Education, against 41% at Pasco-Hernando State 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.