SABER College vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but SABER College comes closer — median earnings $40,816 against a $22,018 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | SABER College | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,009 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $22,018 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,816 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $22,000 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$172,898 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, SABER College or ATA Career Education?
SABER College, at $11,009 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $17,241 a year, or $90,982 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do SABER College or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
SABER College graduates report a median $40,816 ten years after entry, $6,239 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, SABER College or ATA Career Education?
ATA Career Education: its completers carry a median $21,030 in federal loans versus $22,000 at SABER College, a difference of $970. 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 61% at SABER 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.