Head-to-head comparison
Berea College vs ATA College: which has better ROI?
Option A Berea, KY
Berea College
- Net price / year
- $6,106
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,150
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Louisville, KY
ATA College
- Net price / year
- $28,611
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,577
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Berea College comes closer — median earnings $43,150 against a $24,424 total, vs $34,577 at ATA College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Berea College | ATA College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,106 | $28,611 |
| Total net cost | $24,424 | $57,222 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,150 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | $3,591 | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$128,624 | -$332,882 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Berea College or ATA College?
Berea College, at $6,106 a year after aid versus $28,611 — a gap of $22,505 a year, or $32,798 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 Berea College or ATA College graduates earn more?
Berea College graduates report a median $43,150 ten years after entry, $8,573 more than the $34,577 at ATA 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 leaves students with less debt, Berea College or ATA College?
Berea College: its completers carry a median $3,591 in federal loans versus $21,030 at ATA College, a difference of $17,439. 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?
58% of students finish at Berea College, 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.