Head-to-head comparison
ATA College vs American National University-Louisville: which has better ROI?
Option A Louisville, KY
ATA College
- Net price / year
- $28,611
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,577
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Louisville, KY
American National University-Louisville
- Net price / year
- $17,010
- Earnings, 10 years
- $28,188
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but ATA College comes closer — median earnings $34,577 against a $57,222 total, vs $28,188 at American National University-Louisville. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | ATA College | American National University-Louisville |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,611 | $17,010 |
| Total net cost | $57,222 | $34,020 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,577 | $28,188 |
| Median debt | $21,030 | $23,618 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$332,882 | -$437,460 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, ATA College or American National University-Louisville?
American National University-Louisville, at $17,010 a year after aid versus $28,611 — a gap of $11,601 a year, or $23,202 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do ATA College or American National University-Louisville graduates earn more?
ATA College graduates report a median $34,577 ten years after entry, $6,389 more than the $28,188 at American National University-Louisville. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, ATA College or American National University-Louisville?
ATA College: its completers carry a median $21,030 in federal loans versus $23,618 at American National University-Louisville, a difference of $2,588. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
50% of students finish at American National University-Louisville, against 46% at ATA 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.