Santa Fe College vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Santa Fe College comes closer — median earnings $41,631 against a $22,196 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Santa Fe College | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,098 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $22,196 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,631 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $11,310 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$156,776 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Santa Fe College or ATA Career Education?
Santa Fe College, at $11,098 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $17,152 a year, or $90,804 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Santa Fe College or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
Santa Fe College graduates report a median $41,631 ten years after entry, $7,054 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, Santa Fe College or ATA Career Education?
Santa Fe College: its completers carry a median $11,310 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA Career Education, a difference of $9,720. 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 53% at Santa Fe 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.