Seminole State College of Florida vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Seminole State College of Florida comes closer — median earnings $41,733 against a $35,880 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Seminole State College of Florida | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,970 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $35,880 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,733 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $11,047 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$168,420 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Seminole State College of Florida or ATA Career Education?
Seminole State College of Florida, at $8,970 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $19,280 a year, or $77,120 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Seminole State College of Florida or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
Seminole State College of Florida graduates report a median $41,733 ten years after entry, $7,156 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, Seminole State College of Florida or ATA Career Education?
Seminole State College of Florida: its completers carry a median $11,047 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA Career Education, a difference of $9,983. 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 41% at Seminole State College of Florida. 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.