South University-West Palm Beach vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but South University-West Palm Beach comes closer — median earnings $34,421 against a $81,084 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | South University-West Palm Beach | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,271 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $81,084 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,421 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $26,123 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$359,864 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, South University-West Palm Beach or ATA Career Education?
South University-West Palm Beach, at $20,271 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $7,979 a year, or $31,916 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do South University-West Palm Beach or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
ATA Career Education graduates report a median $34,577 ten years after entry, $156 more than the $34,421 at South University-West Palm Beach. 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, South University-West Palm Beach or ATA Career Education?
ATA Career Education: its completers carry a median $21,030 in federal loans versus $26,123 at South University-West Palm Beach, a difference of $5,093. 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 18% at South University-West Palm Beach. 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.