Southern State Community College vs ATA College-Cincinnati: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Southern State Community College comes closer — median earnings $35,463 against a $19,348 total, vs $34,577 at ATA College-Cincinnati. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern State Community College | ATA College-Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,674 | $27,055 |
| Total net cost | $19,348 | $108,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,463 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $11,457 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$277,288 | -$383,880 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southern State Community College or ATA College-Cincinnati?
Southern State Community College, at $9,674 a year after aid versus $27,055 — a gap of $17,381 a year, or $88,872 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Southern State Community College or ATA College-Cincinnati graduates earn more?
Southern State Community College graduates report a median $35,463 ten years after entry, $886 more than the $34,577 at ATA College-Cincinnati. 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, Southern State Community College or ATA College-Cincinnati?
Southern State Community College: its completers carry a median $11,457 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA College-Cincinnati, a difference of $9,573. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
63% of students finish at ATA College-Cincinnati, against 37% at Southern State Community 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.