State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota vs Atlantic Technical College: 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 $38,560 at Atlantic Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota | Atlantic Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,356 | $10,414 |
| Total net cost | $44,712 | $41,656 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,318 | $38,560 |
| Median debt | $9,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$205,552 | -$237,656 |
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 Atlantic Technical College?
Atlantic Technical College, at $10,414 a year after aid versus $22,356 — a gap of $11,942 a year, or $3,056 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 Atlantic Technical College graduates earn more?
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota graduates report a median $40,318 ten years after entry, $1,758 more than the $38,560 at Atlantic 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 graduates more of its students?
65% of students finish at Atlantic Technical College, 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.