Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville comes closer — median earnings $41,067 against a $138,856 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,714 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $138,856 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,067 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$284,716 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville or ATA Career Education?
ATA Career Education, at $28,250 a year after aid versus $34,714 — a gap of $6,464 a year, or $25,856 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville graduates report a median $41,067 ten years after entry, $6,490 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, Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville or ATA Career Education?
Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville: 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?
72% of students finish at Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville, against 67% at ATA Career Education. 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.