Head-to-head comparison
Atenas University vs Automeca Technical College-Ponce: which has better ROI?
Option A Manati, PR
Atenas University
- Net price / year
- $5,818
- Earnings, 10 years
- $20,231
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Ponce, PR
Automeca Technical College-Ponce
- Net price / year
- $4,834
- Earnings, 10 years
- $24,632
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Automeca Technical College-Ponce comes closer — median earnings $24,632 against a $19,336 total, vs $20,231 at Atenas University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Atenas University | Automeca Technical College-Ponce |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,818 | $4,834 |
| Total net cost | $11,636 | $19,336 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $20,231 | $24,632 |
| Median debt | $6,525 | $3,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$574,216 | -$493,896 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Atenas University or Automeca Technical College-Ponce?
Automeca Technical College-Ponce, at $4,834 a year after aid versus $5,818 — a gap of $984 a year, or $7,700 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 Atenas University or Automeca Technical College-Ponce graduates earn more?
Automeca Technical College-Ponce graduates report a median $24,632 ten years after entry, $4,401 more than the $20,231 at Atenas University. 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, Atenas University or Automeca Technical College-Ponce?
Automeca Technical College-Ponce: its completers carry a median $3,030 in federal loans versus $6,525 at Atenas University, a difference of $3,495. 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?
73% of students finish at Automeca Technical College-Ponce, against 42% at Atenas University. 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.