Universal Technical Institute-Orlando vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Universal Technical Institute-Orlando comes closer — median earnings $48,341 against a $50,006 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Universal Technical Institute-Orlando | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,003 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $50,006 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,341 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $13,097 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$50,386 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Universal Technical Institute-Orlando or ATA Career Education?
Universal Technical Institute-Orlando, at $25,003 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $3,247 a year, or $62,994 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Universal Technical Institute-Orlando or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
Universal Technical Institute-Orlando graduates report a median $48,341 ten years after entry, $13,764 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, Universal Technical Institute-Orlando or ATA Career Education?
Universal Technical Institute-Orlando: its completers carry a median $13,097 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA Career Education, a difference of $7,933. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Universal Technical Institute-Orlando, 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.