Trinity College of Jacksonville vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Trinity College of Jacksonville comes closer — median earnings $37,275 against a $80,044 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Trinity College of Jacksonville | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,011 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $80,044 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,275 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $24,250 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$301,744 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Trinity College of Jacksonville or ATA Career Education?
Trinity College of Jacksonville, at $20,011 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $8,239 a year, or $32,956 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Trinity College of Jacksonville or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
Trinity College of Jacksonville graduates report a median $37,275 ten years after entry, $2,698 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, Trinity College of Jacksonville or ATA Career Education?
ATA Career Education: its completers carry a median $21,030 in federal loans versus $24,250 at Trinity College of Jacksonville, a difference of $3,220. 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 Trinity College of Jacksonville. 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.