The College of the Florida Keys vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but The College of the Florida Keys comes closer — median earnings $42,508 against a $27,272 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | The College of the Florida Keys | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,636 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $27,272 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,508 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$144,312 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, The College of the Florida Keys or ATA Career Education?
The College of the Florida Keys, at $13,636 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $14,614 a year, or $85,728 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do The College of the Florida Keys or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
The College of the Florida Keys graduates report a median $42,508 ten years after entry, $7,931 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, The College of the Florida Keys or ATA Career Education?
The College of the Florida Keys: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA Career Education, a difference of $11,530. 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 34% at The College of the Florida Keys. 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.