Ringling College of Art and Design vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Ringling College of Art and Design comes closer — median earnings $43,325 against a $230,968 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ringling College of Art and Design | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $57,742 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $230,968 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,325 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$331,668 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Ringling College of Art and Design or ATA Career Education?
ATA Career Education, at $28,250 a year after aid versus $57,742 — a gap of $29,492 a year, or $117,968 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Ringling College of Art and Design or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
Ringling College of Art and Design graduates report a median $43,325 ten years after entry, $8,748 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, Ringling College of Art and Design or ATA Career Education?
ATA Career Education: its completers carry a median $21,030 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Ringling College of Art and Design, a difference of $5,970. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
72% of students finish at Ringling College of Art and Design, 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.