Praxis Institute 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 $22,300 at Praxis Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Praxis Institute | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,785 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $35,140 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $22,300 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $8,905 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$556,340 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Praxis Institute or ATA Career Education?
Praxis Institute, at $8,785 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $19,465 a year, or $77,860 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Praxis Institute or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
ATA Career Education graduates report a median $34,577 ten years after entry, $12,277 more than the $22,300 at Praxis Institute. 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, Praxis Institute or ATA Career Education?
Praxis Institute: its completers carry a median $8,905 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA Career Education, a difference of $12,125. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
78% of students finish at Praxis Institute, 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.