Head-to-head comparison
ATA College vs PJ's College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green: 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 Bowling Green, KY
PJ's College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green
- Net price / year
- $26,577
- Earnings, 10 years
- $20,392
- 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 $20,392 at PJ's College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | ATA College | PJ's College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,611 | $26,577 |
| Total net cost | $57,222 | $106,308 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,577 | $20,392 |
| Median debt | $21,030 | $7,917 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$332,882 | -$665,668 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, ATA College or PJ's College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green?
PJ's College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green, at $26,577 a year after aid versus $28,611 — a gap of $2,034 a year, or $49,086 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 PJ's College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green graduates earn more?
ATA College graduates report a median $34,577 ten years after entry, $14,185 more than the $20,392 at PJ's College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green. 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 PJ's College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green?
PJ's College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green: its completers carry a median $7,917 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA College, a difference of $13,113. 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?
64% of students finish at PJ's College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green, 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.