State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota comes closer — median earnings $40,318 against a $44,712 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,356 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $44,712 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,318 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $9,000 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$205,552 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota or ATA Career Education?
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota, at $22,356 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $5,894 a year, or $68,288 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota graduates report a median $40,318 ten years after entry, $5,741 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, State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota or ATA Career Education?
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA Career Education, a difference of $12,030. 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 38% at State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota. 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.