Southern Technical College vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but ATA Career Education comes closer — median earnings $34,577 against a $113,000 total, vs $29,893 at Southern Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern Technical College | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,623 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $82,492 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $29,893 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $11,250 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$451,832 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southern Technical College or ATA Career Education?
Southern Technical College, at $20,623 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $7,627 a year, or $30,508 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 Technical College or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
ATA Career Education graduates report a median $34,577 ten years after entry, $4,684 more than the $29,893 at Southern 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, Southern Technical College or ATA Career Education?
Southern Technical College: its completers carry a median $11,250 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA Career Education, a difference of $9,780. 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 63% at Southern Technical 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.