Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College vs ATA College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but ATA College comes closer — median earnings $34,577 against a $57,222 total, vs $29,482 at Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College | ATA College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,731 | $28,611 |
| Total net cost | $14,924 | $57,222 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $29,482 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $6,919 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$392,484 | -$332,882 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College or ATA College?
Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College, at $3,731 a year after aid versus $28,611 — a gap of $24,880 a year, or $42,298 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College or ATA College graduates earn more?
ATA College graduates report a median $34,577 ten years after entry, $5,095 more than the $29,482 at Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College. 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, Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College or ATA College?
Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College: its completers carry a median $6,919 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA College, a difference of $14,111. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
47% of students finish at Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College, against 46% at ATA 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.