University of Pikeville vs ATA College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Pikeville comes closer — median earnings $48,231 against a $81,244 total, vs $34,577 at ATA College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Pikeville | ATA College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,311 | $28,611 |
| Total net cost | $81,244 | $57,222 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,231 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $20,679 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$83,824 | -$332,882 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Pikeville or ATA College?
University of Pikeville, at $20,311 a year after aid versus $28,611 — a gap of $8,300 a year, or $24,022 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of Pikeville or ATA College graduates earn more?
University of Pikeville graduates report a median $48,231 ten years after entry, $13,654 more than the $34,577 at ATA 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 leaves students with less debt, University of Pikeville or ATA College?
University of Pikeville: its completers carry a median $20,679 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA College, a difference of $351. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
46% of students finish at ATA College, against 42% at University of Pikeville. 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.