Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private for-profit · Clearwater, FL · 713 students

The verdict

National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay charges a net price of $27,476/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $109,904. Graduates earn a median $59,029 ten years after entry, $10,669/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 10.3 years — a 20-year net return of $103,476, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share

National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay's 10.3-year payback ranks #803 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 37% of them, and #24 of 166 in Florida.

Better ROI than 37% of US colleges#803 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$27,476
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$59,029
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
10.3 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$27,476/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$109,904our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$59,029Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$10,669/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$22,000Scorecard, 2026
Payback10.3 yrsour math
20-year net return$103,476our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 4 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.

National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay: frequently asked questions

Is National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay charges $27,476/yr after aid ($109,904 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $59,029 ten years out — $10,669/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 10.3 years and returns $103,476 net over 20 years, a slow but positive payback.
How long does a National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay degree take to pay off?
About 10.3 years. We divide the $109,904 four-year net cost by the $10,669/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $27,476/yr — about $109,904 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay compare to other Florida colleges?
It ranks #24 of 166 Florida colleges we track by payback. Its $59,029 median earnings beat the national median of $43,552, and its $27,476 net price is above the national median of $16,906.