At $20,906/yr net price, ATA College graduates earn $35,017/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $1,017/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $20,906 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $83,624 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $35,017/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$1,017/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 82.2 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 86.0% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $5,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $19,636/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,131/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,796/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,026/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Associate | $28,598 | |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Certificate | $27,439 | |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Certificate | $24,140 | $5,500 |
The Risk Factor
86.0% of students at ATA College graduate within 6 years. Most students who start here finish their degree.
Analysis
ATA College gives you a weak financial return. You pay nearly $21,000 a year in net price, and the typical graduate earns about $35,000 ten years out. That gap is the core problem: you spend a lot up front for earnings that barely clear what many jobs pay without any degree at all.
The bright spot is the low median debt of $5,500. If you finish, you likely won't drown in loans, and the 86% graduation rate means most people who start here do finish. But low debt only helps if the earnings justify the price you paid out of pocket, and here they don't.
Look at the programs and the picture gets worse. The top earners are the associate and certificate tracks in Computer and Information Sciences, around $27,000-$28,600, and medical assisting at roughly $24,000. None of those program-level numbers reach the school's own $35,000 median. These are all associate or certificate credentials, so treat them as short-vocational outcomes, not a bachelor's payoff. If you enroll here, computing pays the most, and medical assisting pays the least of the three.
The net price tiers should give families pause. Earning under $30,000 a year, you still pay about $19,600 , the discount for low income is small. Move up to the $75,000-$110,000 band and the price jumps to over $27,000, one of the steepest tier increases you'll see.
ATA College fits you only if you want a specific short credential fast, plan to finish, and can stomach the price without much aid relief. If you're weighing this against a community college in the region, the community college will almost certainly cost far less for comparable vocational training. Look there first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ATA College worth the cost for computer science students?
ATA College computer science graduates earn around $28,000 annually, which is below average for tech fields. With a net price of $20,900 per year, the return on investment is weak compared to other computer science programs.
What is the job outlook for ATA College graduates?
ATA College graduates earn a median of $35,017 ten years after enrollment, which is relatively low for college graduates. The 86% graduation rate is decent, but the earning potential may not justify the cost for many students.
How much student debt do ATA College students typically have?
The median debt for ATA College students is $5,500, which is lower than many schools. However, the low post-graduation earnings mean even this modest debt load could be challenging to repay.
Which programs at ATA College offer the best return on investment?
Computer science programs at ATA College show the highest earnings at around $28,000, but this is still below market rates for tech jobs. Allied health programs earn about $24,000, making the ROI questionable across most offerings.