Head-to-head comparison
Athens Technical College vs Shorter University: which has better ROI?
Option A Athens, GA
Athens Technical College
- Net price / year
- $6,949
- Earnings, 10 years
- $35,951
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Rome, GA
Shorter University
- Net price / year
- $16,646
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,604
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Shorter University comes closer — median earnings $44,604 against a $66,584 total, vs $35,951 at Athens Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Athens Technical College | Shorter University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,949 | $16,646 |
| Total net cost | $27,796 | $66,584 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,951 | $44,604 |
| Median debt | — | $25,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$275,976 | -$141,704 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Athens Technical College or Shorter University?
Athens Technical College, at $6,949 a year after aid versus $16,646 — a gap of $9,697 a year, or $38,788 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 Athens Technical College or Shorter University graduates earn more?
Shorter University graduates report a median $44,604 ten years after entry, $8,653 more than the $35,951 at Athens Technical College. 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 graduates more of its students?
51% of students finish at Athens Technical College, against 38% at Shorter 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.