Professional Skills Institute vs ATA College-Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Professional Skills Institute comes closer — median earnings $47,765 against a $41,442 total, vs $34,577 at ATA College-Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Professional Skills Institute | ATA College-Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,721 | $27,055 |
| Total net cost | $41,442 | $108,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,765 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $17,813 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$53,342 | -$383,880 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Professional Skills Institute or ATA College-Cincinnati?
Professional Skills Institute, at $20,721 a year after aid versus $27,055 — a gap of $6,334 a year, or $66,778 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Professional Skills Institute or ATA College-Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Professional Skills Institute graduates report a median $47,765 ten years after entry, $13,188 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, Professional Skills Institute or ATA College-Cincinnati?
Professional Skills Institute: its completers carry a median $17,813 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA College-Cincinnati, a difference of $3,217. 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 43% at Professional Skills Institute. 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.