Polk State College vs Atlantic Technical College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Polk State College comes closer — median earnings $40,624 against a $18,854 total, vs $38,560 at Atlantic Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Polk State College | Atlantic Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,427 | $10,414 |
| Total net cost | $18,854 | $41,656 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,624 | $38,560 |
| Median debt | $10,076 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$173,574 | -$237,656 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Polk State College or Atlantic Technical College?
Polk State College, at $9,427 a year after aid versus $10,414 — a gap of $987 a year, or $22,802 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Polk State College or Atlantic Technical College graduates earn more?
Polk State College graduates report a median $40,624 ten years after entry, $2,064 more than the $38,560 at Atlantic 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?
65% of students finish at Atlantic Technical College, against 35% at Polk 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.