Head-to-head comparison
Aveda Institute-South Florida vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Option A Davie, FL
Aveda Institute-South Florida
- Net price / year
- $24,529
- Earnings, 10 years
- $29,426
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Spring Hill, FL
ATA Career Education
- Net price / year
- $28,250
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,577
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but ATA Career Education comes closer — median earnings $34,577 against a $113,000 total, vs $29,426 at Aveda Institute-South Florida. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aveda Institute-South Florida | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,529 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $98,116 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $29,426 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $6,333 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$476,796 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Aveda Institute-South Florida or ATA Career Education?
Aveda Institute-South Florida, at $24,529 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $3,721 a year, or $14,884 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 Aveda Institute-South Florida or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
ATA Career Education graduates report a median $34,577 ten years after entry, $5,151 more than the $29,426 at Aveda Institute-South Florida. 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, Aveda Institute-South Florida or ATA Career Education?
Aveda Institute-South Florida: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA Career Education, a difference of $14,697. 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 Aveda Institute-South Florida, against 67% at ATA Career Education. 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.