Withlacoochee Technical College vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Withlacoochee Technical College comes closer — median earnings $34,279 against a $41,392 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Withlacoochee Technical College | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,348 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $41,392 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,279 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | — | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$323,012 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Withlacoochee Technical College or ATA Career Education?
Withlacoochee Technical College, at $10,348 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $17,902 a year, or $71,608 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Withlacoochee Technical College or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
ATA Career Education graduates report a median $34,577 ten years after entry, $298 more than the $34,279 at Withlacoochee Technical 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 graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at ATA Career Education, against 61% at Withlacoochee Technical College. 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.